Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez deepened a diplomatic rift with Washington on Wednesday by firmly declaring “No to the war.” This defiance follows Madrid’s refusal to allow US forces to use Spanish military bases for strikes against Iranian targets.
President Donald Trump lashing out at Madrid on Tuesday ignited this firestorm, during which he labeled Spain a “terrible” ally. Trump threatened to sever all trade ties, yet Sanchez remained unmoved by the prospect of severe American economic retaliation.
“We will not be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and contrary to our values,” Sanchez stated. He further emphasized that Spain would not succumb to fear of retaliation, marking a significant departure from previous military cooperation.
While the US military utilizes the Rota and Moron bases under a 1953 treaty, Sanchez compared current events to Iraq. Consequently, he argued that the 2003 invasion increased global terrorism and energy prices while making the modern world less secure.
European Solidarity Stands Firm
The European Union has quickly rallied behind Madrid to protect the interests of its member states against external economic pressure. European Council chief Antonio Costa expressed “full solidarity,” while French President Emmanuel Macron also called to denounce “economic coercion.”
Neighboring Portugal has taken a different path by authorizing the conditional use of an airbase on the Azores archipelago instead. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro confirmed that Portuguese support remains strictly aligned with international law and targets only specific military objectives.
Critics argue that Sanchez is using this foreign policy crisis to distract from domestic scandals and a struggling minority government. Conservative leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused the Prime Minister of using international relations for “partisan” purposes before the 2027 election.
Nevertheless, Sanchez remains a prominent figure for Europe’s disillusioned progressives who oppose the continent’s shift toward right-wing, nationalist politics. The “No to the war” slogan resonates deeply with a Spanish public that still remembers the tragic 2004 Madrid bombings.
