Donald Trump has suggested he is open to pulling US military bases from Andalucia.
The US president made the comments on Friday when asked about a proposal from Republican senator Lindsey Graham to withdraw the bases in Rota (Cadiz) and Moron (Sevilla) – as well as other countries like Germany.
‘Well he’s right about that,’ Trump said outside the White House, referring to Graham’s suggestion.
Graham had already criticised Spain days earlier, accusing the country of ‘losing its way’ and questioning why the US should maintain air bases in a country that, in his view, is not fully aligned with American military operations.
The remarks come amid tensions after Spain refused to allow its bases to be used in US strikes on Iran.
Trump then launched a fresh attack on NATO, claiming the alliance has ‘fallen a long way’ and accusing allies of failing to support US efforts in the Middle East.
‘I think NATO has declined a long way,’ he said. ‘They should be helping with the Strait of Hormuz – they get a lot of their energy from there.’
Earlier in the day, Trump had gone even further, branding allies ‘cowards’ in a post on Truth Social and warning: ‘We will remember.’
He also claimed that without the US, NATO is ‘a paper tiger’.
War rhetoric escalates
The US president painted a triumphant picture of the ongoing conflict with Iran, insisting: ‘We’ve won.’
He claimed US forces had crippled Iran’s military capabilities, saying its navy was ‘at the bottom of the sea’ and its air force effectively destroyed – assertions that have not been independently verified.
Trump also dismissed calls for a ceasefire.
‘You don’t do a ceasefire when you’re obliterating the other side,’ he said.
Any move to withdraw US forces from bases like Rota and Morón would mark a major shift in military strategy and could have serious economic and security implications for southern Spain.
Most analysts see such a move as unlikely, given the strategic importance the bases have.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
