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Spanish PM issues scathing response after Trump threatened to cut off trade for not assisting US military operation
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has fired back after Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with the European nation following its criticism of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The military campaign began on February 28 after negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program failed to produce an agreement. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other members of the country’s senior leadership.
Civilian casualties have also been reported during the conflict. One strike reportedly hit a school, killing 165 children and teachers, adding to the growing international concern about the impact of the attacks.
Trump criticizes Spain over NATO spending and military bases
Trump publicly criticized Spain while speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, linking the dispute to disagreements over NATO defense spending and the use of Spanish military bases.
Per Reuters, he said, "Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told [Scott Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain."
Trump also pointed to his demand that NATO members increase defense spending to five percent of GDP, claiming most countries had agreed to the proposal.
He said: "First of all, it started when every European nation, at my request, paid 5 percent, which they should be doing, and everybody was enthusiastic about it, Germany, everybody, and Spain didn't do it. And now Spain actually said that we can't use their bases.
"That's alright, we can use their base if we want we can just fly in and use it, nobody's gonna tell us not to use it... but they were unfriendly so I told him Spain has absolutely nothing that we need, other than great people, they have great people. But they don't have great leadership."
Sánchez rejects pressure and condemns military action
Sánchez responded during remarks from the prime minister’s residence at La Moncloa, where he defended Spain’s position and criticized the military campaign.
Per CNBC, he said, “We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world, and that is also contrary to our values and interests simply out of fear of reprisals from someone.”
He added, "It's unacceptable that some presidents use the fog of war to cover up their failures.
"The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs - nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality."
Sánchez also summarized his government’s stance in blunt terms, saying: "The government's position can be summed up in four words: No to war."
The statement refers to the Spanish phrase "no a la guerra."
Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares also stated that Spanish military bases will not be used to support the attacks.
"I want to be very clear and very plain. The bases are not being used - nor will they be used - for anything that is not in the agreement [with the US], nor for anything that isn’t covered by the UN charter," he said.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles explained that Spain’s military base agreement with the United States requires any operations to meet international legal standards and have international backing.
US soldiers killed after Iranian drone attack
The conflict has also led to American casualties.
Six US soldiers have died so far after an Iranian ‘unmanned aircraft system’ struck a US command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, last Sunday (March 1). A source told CNN the strike came without warning or sirens around 9AM local time, and parts of the building continued burning hours after the attack.
The Pentagon later named four of the six soldiers who were killed.
They are Capt Cody Khork, 35, Sgt Noah Tietjens, 42, Sgt Nicole Amor, 39, and Sgt Declan Coady, 20.
Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, said: “On behalf of the Army Reserve, we express our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring the legacy of our fallen and supporting their teammates and families during this difficult time.”