Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks throughout a press convention after attending a particular summit of European Union leaders.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as soon as once more criticised the U.S. and Israel’s army actions in Iran, standing agency on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) towards recent commerce threats from Washington and warning that the Iran battle risked “taking part in Russian roulette” with thousands and thousands of lives.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday (March 3) threatened to finish U.S. commerce with Spain due to Spain’s refusal to permit the U.S. to make use of joint army bases within the nation in its assaults on Iran.
Observe Iran-Israel battle LIVE updates on March 4
“We’re not going to be complicit in one thing that’s dangerous for the world and can also be opposite to our values and pursuits, simply out of concern of reprisals from somebody,” Mr. Sanchez stated in a televised tackle.
It is not clear how Mr. Trump would minimize off commerce with Spain, a European Union member. The EU negotiates commerce on behalf of all its 27 members.
Regardless of Spain’s refusal, Mr. Trump on Tuesday (March 3) stated “we may use their base if we wish,” referencing two army bases in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share, however which stay below Spanish command.
“We may simply fly in and use it,” Mr. Trump stated. “No person’s going to inform us to not use it, however we do not have to.”
Tuesday’s (March 3) threats from Washington had been simply the newest occasion of the U.S. President wielding the specter of tariffs or commerce embargoes as punishment. The U.S. Supreme Courtroom final month struck down Mr. Trump’s far-reaching world tariffs, saying emergency powers don’t enable the President to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs.
Nevertheless, Mr. Trump maintains that the courtroom permits him to as an alternative impose full-scale embargoes on different nations of his selecting.
Spain’s place on the Iran battle marks the newest flare-up in its relationship with the Trump administration. Spain was additionally an outspoken critic of Israel’s battle in Gaza.
Mr. Sanchez has known as the U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran an “unjustifiable” and “harmful” army intervention.
On Wednesday (March 4), the Spanish chief additionally referenced the Iraq battle and its unfavorable penalties by way of producing extra jihadi extremism.
“In brief, the place of the federal government of Spain will be summarised in 4 phrases,” Mr. Sanchez stated. “No to the battle.”
The European Union stands in full solidarity with Spain, European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Wednesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to minimize commerce with Madrid over its stance towards Washington’s assaults on Iran.
“I’ve simply held a name with President Sanchez to categorical the EU’s full solidarity with Spain.The EU will all the time make sure that the pursuits of its Member States are absolutely protected”, Mr. Costa stated on social media platform on X.
Printed – March 04, 2026 04:09 pm IST