Spain baulks at Trump’s threat to cut off all trade over NATO, Iran stance

The US has relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from military bases in southern Spain.Published On 3 Mar 2026Spain has said the US should be mindful of international law and bilateral trade agreements with the European Union, after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off all trade with the country for refusing to let the US military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.“We have the necessary resources to contain the possible impact of the trade embargo by the US,” the Spanish government said in a statement on Tuesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran mourns 165 girls, staff killed in US-Israel strike on Minab schoollist 2 of 3Flames, smoke rise from US Consulate in Dubai after suspected attacklist 3 of 3UK, France send warships, air defence assets to Cyprus after drone attackend of list“The US must comply with international law and bilateral EU-US trade agreements,” it added.After the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the attacks as a breach of international law. He called for dialogue to end the war on Iran, saying that “one can oppose a hateful regime and, at the same time, oppose an unjustified and dangerous military intervention”.On Monday, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid would not allow the country’s military bases, which are jointly operated by the US and Spain but are under Spanish sovereignty, to be used for attacks on Iran.“Spanish bases are not being used for this operation, and they will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the United States, or for anything that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” Albares said, speaking to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.Subsequently, the US relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain.