Spain Fires Back After Trump Threatens to Cut Trade Ties
Tensions between Washington and Madrid are rising fast after President Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with Spain — prompting a sharp and defiant response from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
At the heart of the dispute is Spain’s public criticism of recent U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. The strikes, launched on February 28 after nuclear negotiations collapsed, reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and several senior officials. Casualty figures vary widely, with humanitarian organizations reporting significant civilian losses.
While U.S. officials have defended the operation as strategically necessary, Spain has taken a different stance.
Spain Calls Strikes “Unjustified and Dangerous”
Sánchez condemned the military action as an “unjustified and dangerous intervention” that he says violates international law. Spanish leaders also made it clear that U.S. military bases located in Spain would not be used for operations related to the conflict unless they fully comply with existing bilateral agreements and the UN Charter.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spanish bases “are not being used — nor will they be used — for anything outside the agreement with the United States.”
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