Spain will preserve its Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States, it has emerged, allowing Washington to continue routing weapons to Israel via Spanish military bases in Andalucia.
It comes despite new legal measures announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to enforce an arms embargo against Tel Aviv.
Sanchez declared on Monday that Spain is formalising the embargo through a Royal Decree-Law, which will be brought to the Council of Ministers this week.
The move is part of a broader package aimed at increasing diplomatic pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over its military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank, which Sanchez branded a genocide.
Defence agreement with the US remains untouched
While the new embargo blocks Spanish arms sales and logistical support to Israel, Madrid will not alter the bilateral defence treaty that allows the US military to operate from bases at Rota and Moron de la Frontera, situated in the provinces of Cadiz and Sevilla respectively.
Sources from Spain’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Cooperation Agreement for Defence, signed with the US, remains in full force and will not be amended to reflect the new restrictions.
This means American forces can continue using Spanish territory to transport weapons to Israel, as long as the shipments originate from the US and are routed through these jointly operated bases.
The embargo introduced by Sanchez includes the legal suspension of Spanish arms exports to Israel, which have already been halted in practice since October 2023.
The decree also bans the passage of fuel shipments intended for Israeli military use through Spanish ports and prohibits state aircraft carrying military cargo to Israel from using Spanish airspace.
These new measures are aimed at reinforcing Spain’s diplomatic stance, distancing the country from any direct military support of Israel’s ongoing operations.
US bases exempt
However, the bases at Moron and Rota are not covered by the embargo, as they fall under the scope of the bilateral US-Spain defence agreement, not unilateral Spanish arms policy.
Article 32 of the agreement permits the US to move munitions and explosives through Spanish bases with prior authorisation from a Defence Ministry committee, but without disclosing the final destination of the cargo.
These bases have been key to US military logistics for years. During the Trump administration, both Rota and Moron were used to support operations involving bombers and refuelling aircraft. The arrangement gives Washington strategic reach into the Middle East and North Africa.
US naval expansion in Rota
Looking ahead, Spain will continue to deepen its defence ties with the US. A new American destroyer is expected to be deployed to the Rota naval base in the first half of 2026, further expanding the US Navy’s presence on Spanish soil.
This dual-track approach – condemning Israel’s actions while preserving the US-Spain military alliance -places Madrid in a complex position.
While Spain moves to align itself with broader European criticism of Netanyahu’s government, it is also maintaining the infrastructure that allows its key NATO ally to continue supplying arms to Israel.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
