The European leader defying Trump and his attacks on Iran

Spain’s Pedro Sanchez has once again emerged as Europe’s most consistently vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, drawing his ire for refusing to allow the American military to stage operations for its attacks on Iran from Spanish military bases.Trump lashed out at the Spanish prime minister on Tuesday, saying he would “cut off all trade with Spain” in retaliation for the affront. The spat intensified the next day when Spain’s foreign minister contradicted a claim by the White House press secretary that Spain had heard Trump’s message “loud and clear” and was cooperating with the US military.While denouncing the repressive government in Tehran, Sanchez said he would not back a war that he said was an unjustified assault.“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sanchez said, using the slogan “No to the war” in a speech this week.Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the USS Abraham Lincoln. Photo: US Navy via AFPThe tussle over the Spanish military bases is likely more a diplomatic question than one of military consequence. The US has bases across Europe and the Middle East, and other European countries have agreed to cooperate.