Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister of Spain, retaliated against US President Donald Trump on Wednesday for Madrid’s rejection to allow US aircraft to use its bases to bomb Iran.
“The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war,” he said in a televised address, a day after Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain.
“We will not be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation,” he added.
“We oppose this disaster,” Sanchez said, arguing that his stance is shared by “many other governments” and
“millions of citizens across Europe, North America, and the Middle East who do not want more war or uncertainty tomorrow.”
During his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Tuesday, Trump referred to Spain as a “terrible” ally.
Additionally, he cited Sanchez’s failure to join NATO countries in pledging to increase defense expenditure to five percent of GDP as required by Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that the United States bears an excessive amount of the alliance’s burden.
Other actions of Sanchez’s leftist government, such as his adamant opposition to Israel’s assault in Gaza and the military operation to kidnap and jail Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have infuriated Washington.
The Morón air base and the Rota naval base in Spain are used by US forces. Under the leadership of conservative Prime Minister José María Aznar, Spain firmly supported the United States during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
