After several U.S. military bases were damaged in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the United States asked Pedro Sánchez’s government to allow U.S. forces to use military installations in Spain for potential attacks on Iran. Spain, however, refused the request, marking an unexpected diplomatic rift as the international crisis intensifies.
The refusal came as a surprise to Donald Trump, who responded sharply to Madrid’s decision. Speaking publicly, Trump threatened severe economic consequences. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he said, adding that his administration was reviewing all commercial ties between the two countries.
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Trump also claimed that the United States could nonetheless use Spanish bases even without Madrid’s consent, saying, “We could just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it.” Legal experts note that unilateral military action without host-nation approval would be highly controversial under international agreements.
The president further warned that the U.S. might impose embargoes on Spanish businesses and halt trade entirely, comments that created uncertainty given that trade deals with Spain are negotiated at the European Union level and are subject to international law.
Sánchez, a vocal critic of the U.S.-Israel offensive in Iran, has maintained that Spain would not allow its bases to be used for military operations that lack a clear legal mandate or United Nations approval. Spanish leaders have repeatedly called for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, framing their stance as consistent with international law and past positions on other conflicts.
