Spain Rejects US Demand to Use Military Bases Against Iran, Sparks Trade Threat

“The position of Spain can be summarized in four words: no to war.”

The escalating dispute between Spain and the United States reached a new point of contention this Wednesday as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez firmly rejected a demand from U.S. President Donald Trump to allow the use of Spanish military bases for potential operations against Iran. In response, Trump announced the suspension of all trade with Spain, a move swiftly condemned by Sánchez as unacceptable.

Addressing the nation in a televised statement from Madrid, Sánchez drew parallels to past U.S.-led military interventions, specifically referencing the 2003 invasion of Iraq. “The world has been here before. Twenty-three years ago, another U.S. Administration led us to an unjust war,” he stated. “The war in Iraq generated a drastic increase in terrorism, a serious migratory and economic crisis.” He further alluded to the “Azores trio” – a reference to the 2003 meeting between the leaders of the U.S., the United Kingdom and Spain that paved the way for the Iraq invasion – characterizing it as resulting in “a more insecure world and a worse life.”

The immediate trigger for the escalating tensions was Madrid’s refusal to authorize the use of the U.S. Military facilities at Rota (Cádiz) and Morón de la Frontera (Sevilla) for actions related to the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had previously affirmed that the bases would not be used for any operation not aligned with the existing Cooperation for Defense agreement and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

Trump’s response, delivered during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday, was blunt. “Spain has been terrible,” he declared. “We are going to suspend all trade with Spain. We don’t want to have anything to do with Spain.”

Sánchez countered Trump’s threat, emphasizing Spain’s commitment to international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts. He explicitly stated his government’s opposition to military intervention, echoing a stance similar to that taken regarding the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. “Some will say that is naive. The naive thing is to suppose that the solution is violence,” Sánchez said. “Or to think that blindly and servilely following [another country] is leadership. We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world for fear of retaliation from anyone.”

The dispute extends beyond the immediate issue of base access. Trump as well raised the issue of defense spending, criticizing Spain for not meeting the NATO-agreed target of allocating 5% of its GDP to defense by 2024. He referenced previous threats, including a proposed doubling of tariffs on Spanish exports in June 2025 and suggestions in October of the same year to expel Spain from the NATO alliance – threats that ultimately did not materialize.

The current impasse follows a pattern of increasing friction between the Trump administration and Spain. In August 2025, the European Union reached an agreement with the United States to impose a 15% tariff on most exports originating from the EU bloc, a move prompted by disagreements over trade policies.

Sánchez underscored that any alteration to trade relations between Spain and the U.S. Would require negotiation within the framework of the European Union. He also acknowledged the atrocities committed by the Iranian regime, particularly the repression of protests earlier this year, but reiterated his call for a diplomatic solution.

The Pentagon has already begun to withdraw approximately ten KC-135 refueling aircraft stationed at the Rota and Morón bases, according to Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles. These aircraft were used to provide in-flight refueling support for U.S. Fighter-bombers.

While Trump acknowledged that some European nations, such as Germany, had been “of much help,” he singled out Spain for its perceived lack of cooperation. The situation highlights the diverging approaches to international security and the growing strain in transatlantic relations, even among traditional allies.