Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected US-led strikes on Iran and defended Madrid’s refusal to allow base access, after Donald Trump threatened to cut trade ties amid rising NATO tensions.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has condemned ongoing US and Israeli strikes against Iran as a “disaster,” warning against escalation and drawing parallels to past conflicts such as the Iraq war. His remarks follow a threat by US President Donald Trump to cut off trade with Spain after Madrid refused to allow jointly operated US air bases on its territory to be used in the strikes. Trump also renewed criticism of Spain’s failure to meet NATO’s 5% defense spending target.
Sánchez reiterated his government’s stance of “No to war,” saying Spain would not act out of fear of reprisals. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Madrid of putting American lives at risk by limiting base access, while European Council President António Costa expressed the EU’s full solidarity with Spain and reaffirmed commitment to international law.