The White House has fired back at Spain after Madrid shut its airspace to US military flights linked to the war in Iran – declaring it has no need for Spanish support.
It’s the latest souring of Washington-Madrid relations after repeated criticisms from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has been one of the most vocal European critics of the US-Israel invasion.
Madrid has not only banned the use of key joint bases in Andalucia – Naval Station Rota and Moron Air Base – but has also closed Spanish airspace to US aircraft involved in the conflict.
A senior official in the administration of Donald Trump told EFE: ‘The US Armed Forces are meeting or exceeding all objectives under Operation Epic Fury and do not need help from Spain or anyone else.’
Spain’s defence minister Margarita Robles insisted the position of Spain has been clear from the outset.
‘Spain will not authorise, under any circumstances – has not done so, is not doing so and will not do so – the use of the bases at Rota and Moron to go to a war we are totally against, do not believe in, and consider profoundly illegal and unjust,’ she said.
Spain’s refusal to allow the use of its territory despite longstanding bilateral defence agreements has complicated US military logistics and drawn repeated criticism from Trump.
The US president has previously branded Spain a ‘terrible’ ally and even threatened trade retaliation, including the possibility of cutting off commerce or imposing an embargo.
Spain’s position aligns with its broader rejection of the conflict, but places it at odds with one of its key allies.
