President Donald Trump publicly blasted Spain on Monday and vowed to cut off economic ties after Madrid denied U.S. forces use of Spanish bases for operations tied to strikes on Iran.
“So we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said.
The move sharply escalates tensions with a NATO ally as the U.S. and Israel press a military campaign against Iran.
Spain’s government said it would not authorize the use of its bases for missions outside existing agreements or inconsistent with the United Nations framework, effectively blocking U.S. access for this phase of the Iran operation.
The dispute centers on key Spanish facilities long used for U.S. and NATO logistics and deployments, including the naval base at Rota and the air base at Morón.
Why Trump Says Allies Must Pay Their Share
Trump framed the refusal as a wartime betrayal and criticized Spain for accepting alliance protection while refusing to share the risk when it matters.
He also pointed to Spain’s longstanding resistance to higher defense spending targets, an issue that has strained relations for years.
The president has demanded that NATO allies move toward spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense, arguing Europe cannot keep outsourcing its security to American taxpayers.
Spain has been among the most reluctant, seeking exemptions and saying a lower level of spending is sufficient.
The trade threat immediately raised questions about how such a move could be carried out and what economic fallout it would produce.
The United States and Spain are major trading partners, and any broad cutoff would be a dramatic step with significant consequences.
The confrontation highlights a growing split inside Europe as the Iran conflict intensifies.
While some leaders back the U.S. and Israel’s push to degrade Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, others urge restraint even as Iran fires missiles and drones across the region.
For Trump the episode is a straightforward test of loyalty: allies must choose a side or face consequences.
The standoff could put pressure on other European governments weighing how far they will go in supporting the U.S.-Israeli campaign.
As the Iran conflict expands and Washington asks allies for concrete assistance, Trump is making clear he will not tolerate what he views as freeloading or double-talk.
Spain became the first clear target of that new line in the sand.
