Spanish International Minister Jose Manuel Albares informed Cadena SER radio shortly afterwards that “our place on the usage of the bases, on the struggle within the Center East, on the bombardment of Iran, has not modified in any respect”. File
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters
Spain on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) doubled down on its opposition to Washington’s use of its bases towards Iran, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of commerce reprisals over the spat deepened a rift between the NATO allies.
Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defiantly repeated calls of “no to the struggle” on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) after the weekend U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the regional battle, in his newest coverage conflict with Mr. Trump.
Simply hours later, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Madrid had “agreed to cooperate with the US navy”, with out offering particulars on what the cooperation would entail.
However Spanish International Minister Jose Manuel Albares informed Cadena SER radio shortly afterwards that “our place on the usage of the bases, on the struggle within the Center East, on the bombardment of Iran, has not modified in any respect”.
Mr. Trump had lashed out at Sanchez’s authorities on Tuesday, calling Spain a “horrible” ally and threatening to sever all commerce with one of many world’s most dynamic developed economies.
Mr. Sanchez defended his place on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), saying his authorities’s place “will be summed up in 4 phrases: no to the struggle”.
“We won’t be complicit in one thing that’s dangerous to the world and opposite to our values and pursuits, merely out of concern of retaliation,” he added in a televised deal with.
Spain is a part of the European Union, which permits items to maneuver freely between its 27 international locations. This is able to complicate any bid to impose commerce restrictions on a single member state.
“Trump’s phrases do not at all times change into coverage. We should see if he follows by, and the way,” stated Angel Saz Carranza, director of the Esade Heart for International Economic system and Geopolitics, a Spanish assume tank.
Iran praises Spain
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian counseled Spain on X for its “accountable conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition’s flagrant human rights violations and navy aggression towards international locations”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Antonio Costa have been among the many allies rallying round Mr. Sanchez on Wednesday.
“The EU will at all times be sure that the pursuits of its member states are absolutely protected,” Mr. Costa wrote on X.
Mr. Sanchez had already discovered himself in US crosshairs for refusing to affix NATO allies in a pledge to spice up defence spending to 5 p.c of GDP as demanded by Trump.
He has additionally fiercely criticised Israel’s struggle in Gaza and the U.S. navy operation in January that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
U.S. forces use the Rota naval base and Moron air base in southern Spain beneath an settlement signed in 1953 beneath the dictatorship of Common Francisco Franco.
In the course of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Spain, then led by conservative Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, staunchly backed the US by sending troops.
Spain’s participation within the Iraq struggle sparked big road demonstrations and lots of Spaniards blame it for the March 11, 2004 Madrid practice bombings that killed practically 200 individuals.
A department of Al-Qaeda claimed accountability for the assaults and referred to as for the withdrawal of Spanish forces from Iraq.
Printed – March 05, 2026 01:58 am IST