Donald Trump has branded Spain a ‘terrible ally’ over its refusal to let the US use its bases in operations against Iran.
The US president threatened to ‘cut off all trade’ with the country during a press conference in the Oval Office alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Spain this week categorically denied that its bases in Rota (Cadiz) and Moron (Sevilla), would be used to help the US’s strikes against Iran.
‘We’re going to cut all trade with Spain; we don’t want to have anything to do with Spain,’ Trump said when asked about European backing for the mission.
The US president contrasted Spain’s position with that of other European countries.
‘Some EU countries have been on our side, like Germany, and other countries like Spain have proven to be a terrible ally,’ Trump said.
He added that Spain’s refusal to authorise the use of the Moron and Rota bases had been ‘very unfriendly’.
‘They said we can’t use their military bases. So we told them we don’t want anything from them. They’re fantastic people, but they have terrible leaders and we will cut off all dealings with them,’ he said.
Trump even floated the idea of imposing an embargo.
‘Today I could cut off all relations with Spain, apply embargoes… maybe we will. What do you think?’ he asked reporters, claiming such authority is granted under the US Constitution.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent backed the president’s comments, stating that the Supreme Court had reaffirmed the executive’s capacity to implement trade embargoes.
Trump also revived long-standing tensions with Madrid over defence spending within NATO.
‘Everything started when all European countries, at my request, agreed to reach 5% (of GDP for NATO). Germany, everyone, was enthusiastic. Spain didn’t do it,’ he said.
He went further, suggesting the US could use Spanish bases regardless if it wished.
‘We could fly there and use them. Nobody’s going to tell us we can’t… But they were hostile, so we told them we don’t want to.’
Chancellor Merz said Germany would continue efforts to persuade Spain to raise its defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
‘Spain is the only one not prepared to accept it. We’re trying to convince them that this is part of our shared security,’ he said.
The Spanish government has taken a clear stance against the military escalation with Iran and has refused to allow US forces to use bases on Spanish soil for offensive operations.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated that the bases cannot be used for actions that fall outside the framework of the United Nations Charter.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the position on Tuesday, arguing that violence ‘only generates more violence’ and calling for an immediate halt to escalation and a return to diplomacy.
He condemned both the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and what he described as Iran’s ‘illegal and indiscriminate’ attacks in the region.
Earlier the same day, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain did not expect ‘any consequences whatsoever’ from Washington over its refusal.
He emphasised that the joint-use bases remain under Spanish sovereignty and that any military use by the US requires prior authorisation under bilateral agreements.
Albares added that he had received ‘no request and held no conversation’ regarding their use in the Iran operation.
Trump’s remarks mark one of the most severe public rebukes of Spain by a sitting US president in recent decades and raise questions about potential trade and diplomatic fallout.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
