Category: World

Spain has strongly denied claims from the White House that it agreed to cooperate with the United States military, calling the statement “categorically false” amid rising tensions over the ongoing conflict in Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Spain had reportedly relented after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off all trade with the country. “I think they heard the president’s message loud and clear. Over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military, and our forces are coordinating with their counterparts in Spain,” she said. Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, immediately rejected the claim. “The spokeswoman may speak for the White House, but I am the foreign minister of Spain. I categorically deny it,” he said, emphasising that Madrid’s position on the use of its bases, the Middle East war, and the recent bombings in Iran has “not changed one bit.” Albares added, “I have no desire or time to speculate. Our position remains absolutely unchanged.” The Prime Minister’s Office at Moncloa Palace also labelled the White House statement as false, with sources from both the office and Spain’s Defence Ministry ruling out any cooperation with Washington. The dispute erupted after Trump criticised Spain for refusing to allow US forces to use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain for attacks on Iran. Speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said, “Spain has been terrible. We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.” Trump also condemned Madrid for declining to meet NATO’s proposed defence spending target of 5% of GDP, saying, “Everybody was enthusiastic about it – Germany, everybody – and Spain didn’t do it.” The standoff highlights escalating tensions between the two NATO allies over military cooperation and defence commitments in the Middle East.

Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to sever all trade relations with Spain after the Spanish government refused to support US military operations against Iran. Trump criticized Spain, saying the country “has behaved horribly” and “wants nothing to do” with the United States, following Madrid’s decision not to allow American forces to use Spanish bases for attacks on Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal. The comments were made in the Oval Office ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump’s first foreign guest since the escalation in Iran. Spain has firmly rejected requests to deploy US forces from its Rota and Morón bases, describing the offensive as an “unjustified and dangerous military intervention,” The Guardian reported. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the “unilateral military action” by the US and Israel, warning it contributes to “a more hostile and uncertain international order.” Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares clarified that while Spain supports “democracy, freedom, and fundamental rights for the Iranian people,” its bases will not be used for the ongoing military operations. “The bases are not being used – and will not be used – for anything not provided for in the agreement [with the US], nor for anything not covered by the UN Charter,” he said. As a result of Spain’s refusal, some US aircraft have been relocated from Spanish bases to other locations, highlighting a growing rift between Madrid and Washington over the conflict in Iran.