Tensions between the United States and Spain are escalating over the utilize of Spanish military bases in relation to the ongoing conflict in Iran, raising concerns about transatlantic relations and the cohesion of the NATO alliance. The dispute comes as Washington seeks broader international support for its approach to the Middle East.
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The White House asserted on Wednesday that Spain had agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Military, a claim Madrid swiftly and “categorically” rejected. The conflicting statements followed a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a full trade embargo on Spain, calling the country “terrible” and criticizing its defense spending.
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, se reúne con el canciller alemán, Friedrich Merz, en la Oficina Oval de la Casa Blanca en Washington, D. C., el 3 de marzo de 2026. (Foto de ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP).
/ ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Spain had changed its position regarding the use of its military bases in the conflict with Iran. “With respect to Spain, I suppose they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear and it’s my understanding, over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Military,” Leavitt told reporters. She added that the president expects all European allies to cooperate in what she described as a mission to “crush the rogue Iranian regime.”
However, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares refuted Leavitt’s assertion, telling private radio station Cadena Ser that “the Spanish government’s position on the war in the Middle East… and the use of our bases has not changed at all.” The development highlights a growing rift between Washington and Madrid, even as both countries remain members of NATO.
The disagreement stems from Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to utilize the bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera for operations against Iran. These bases operate under a bilateral agreement that grants the U.S. Access, but requires prior Spanish authorization and respects Spanish sovereignty. The 1953 Pact of Madrid and the 1988 Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for Defense outline the terms of use.
El presidente del Gobierno español, Pedro Sánchez, pronuncia una declaración oficial en respuesta a las declaraciones del presidente estadounidense Donald Trump. (Foto de Borja Puig de la Bellacasa / LA MONCLOA / AFP).
/ BORJA PUIG DE LA BELLACASA
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded to Trump’s threats on Wednesday, stating, “The Spanish government’s position is summarized in four words: no to war.” He added, “We are not going to 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 retaliation.”
Sánchez also referenced the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, arguing it led to a surge in insecurity in Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall. He pointed to the March 11, 2004, Madrid train bombings, which were claimed by al-Qaeda as retaliation for Spain’s participation in the Iraq War and its presence in Afghanistan.
The dispute with Spain also follows Trump’s criticism of Madrid’s defense spending, and his demand that NATO allies spend 5% of their GDP on defense. According to reports, Trump, during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on March 3, said he wanted to “cut off all trade with Spain,” adding, “we don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
Un buque de guerra atracado en la base naval hispano-estadounidense de Rota, en el sur de España, el 17 de junio de 2025. (Foto de JORGE GUERRERO / AFP).
/ JORGE GUERRERO
The bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera, located in Andalusia, are strategically important for the U.S. Military. Rota is a key naval facility in the Mediterranean and hosts a NATO missile defense shield, while Morón serves as a strategic airbase for rapid deployments to Africa and the Middle East. According to BBC News, the U.S. Recently relocated a dozen KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft from these bases to other European facilities.
International analysts suggest that while Trump’s rhetoric is strong, a full trade embargo against Spain would be tricky to implement given Spain’s membership in the European Union and existing trade agreements. Enrique Banús, an international analyst, noted that Trump “says many things in a very direct and rough tone.”
Un hombre y una mujer caminan junto a edificios destruidos tras los ataques aéreos en el centro de Teherán, Irán, el 4 de marzo de 2026. (Foto de AFP).
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The current impasse underscores the challenges facing the U.S. In securing European support for its policies in the Middle East, and could complicate logistical operations in the region. The situation also raises questions about the future of transatlantic cooperation within the framework of NATO.
Juan Álvarez Vita, a former ambassador, emphasized that the U.S. Cannot legally utilize the bases without Spain’s explicit consent, citing the existing treaties. He also argued that Trump’s threats of commercial sanctions lack a legal basis, given Spain’s membership in the EU.
