️ Madrid, Spain – Spain has pledged to continue opposing the war allegedly waged by the United States and Israel on Iran. This decision follows US President Donald Trump's threat to cut off all commercial links with Madrid.
️ Trump's sharp rebuke came after Spain refused to allow US military... bases to be used for missions linked to strikes on Iran. Trump purportedly stated, “Spain has been terrible. We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
️ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez solidified his anti-war position in a televised address, claiming, “This is how humanity’s great disasters start... The world cannot solve its problems with conflicts and bombs.”
️ This stance cements Spain's status as an outlier in Europe, with Madrid remaining one of the few European nations to consistently condemn Israel's actions in Gaza.
️ Polls indicate that over half of Spaniards oppose Trump's foreign policy. According to a February Eurobazuka poll, 53% of Spaniards are against the US president's policies, the third highest rate after France and Belgium.
️ Analysts suggest the US may not be able to inflict significant commercial damage on Spain, as it is part of the European Union. Trade expert Victor Burguete noted, “This is more a threat than a real possibility of ending trade with Spain.”
️ The dispute erupted when Spain denied the use of Rota and Moron bases for attacks on Iran. Trump also criticized Spain's refusal to increase NATO spending.
️ Sanchez has provoked Trump's anger with policies including banning vessels transporting weapons to Israel from docking in Spain and condemning the situation in Gaza. Spain was among the first European countries to recognize a State of Palestine in 2024.
️ Burguete believes Sanchez took this anti-war stance both to oppose Trump's “strongman politics” and for domestic political gains ahead of next year's general elections.
️ While Spain is the world's top exporter of olive oil, it is less vulnerable to Trump's economic threats than other European nations. The US maintained a trade surplus with Spain in 2025.
️ The European Union stated it expects the US to abide by trade agreements with the EU and is “ready to act” to safeguard its interests, but did not specifically name Spain.Source: www.aljazeera.com
