Spain’s Government Denies Cooperating With U.S. Operations In Mideast, Contradicting White House

MADRID (AP) — Diplomatic conflict between the United States and Spain war in Iran The escalation intensified on Wednesday, when governments issued contradictory statements about the possibility of Spanish military bases being used by American armed forces for operations in the Middle East.

Moments after a White House spokesman said the Spanish government in Madrid had agreed to help the United States, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares publicly denied that the European government had changed its position.

“I can refute the White House spokesman,” Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. “The Spanish government’s attitude towards the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one bit.”

The dispute erupted on Tuesday when US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with Madrid, hours after Spain’s prime minister said his government “will not be complicit in something bad for the world”.

Albares spoke Wednesday evening in Madrid, shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “On Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear.”

“And it’s my understanding over the last few hours that they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military,” Leavitt said. “And I know the U.S. military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain.”

Trump said Tuesday he would:Cut off all trade with SpainIt comes a day after Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the United States to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain for any attack not covered by the UN convention.

Hours before Leavitt’s statements on Wednesday, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez He once again criticized the military actions of the United States and Israel in Iran, took a determined stance against commercial threats from Washington, and warned Iran against Iran. war in the middle east He was at risk of “playing Russian roulette” at the expense of the lives of millions of people.

“We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and also contrary to our values ​​and interests, just because we are afraid that someone will retaliate,” Sánchez said in a televised speech.

Sánchez, considered Europe’s last great progressive leader, called US and Israeli attacks on Iran an “unfair” and “dangerous” military intervention.

It was unclear how Trump would cut trade with European Union member Spain. The EU conducts trade negotiations on behalf of all its 27 member states.

Asked in an interview on CNBC whether a trade embargo on Spain was possible, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that “it would be a combination effort.” He did not comment further, but said Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases in the attack on Iran over the weekend endangered the lives of Americans.

“Anything that slows our ability to launch and sustain this war in the fastest and most effective manner puts American lives at risk,” Bessent said. “Spaniards are putting American lives at risk.”

On Wednesday, Sánchez expressed concern that attacks on Iran could lead to another costly military quagmire in the Middle East, similar to past American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In short, the position of the Spanish government can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez said. “No to war.”

The EU said it would protect its interests and work to stabilize trade relations with the United States. signed a trade agreement Last year, after months of economic uncertainty related to Trump’s tariff attack.

“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and their citizens and are ready to take action, if necessary, to protect EU interests through our common trade policy,” European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said.

After Spain rejected U.S. use of its bases, Trump said Tuesday “we can use their bases if we want,” referring to the Rota and Morón facilities in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share but remain under Spanish command.

“We can just fly and drive,” Trump said. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

The threats from Washington on Tuesday were the latest example of the US president using the threat of tariffs or trade embargoes as punishment. Last month, the US Supreme Court ruled Trump’s sweeping global tariffsHe says emergency powers do not allow the president to unilaterally impose broad tariffs.

But Trump argues that the court allowed him to instead impose full-scale embargoes on other countries of his choosing.

Spain’s main business groups have expressed concern about the trade threat, calling the United States “a key partner economically and politically.”

“We believe that our commercial relations will not be affected in any way as a result,” Spanish chambers of commerce CEOE, CEPYME and ATA said in a statement on Tuesday.

Last year, Spain’s central bank published a report concluding that Europe’s fourth-largest economy was relatively weak in the face of Trump’s tariffs compared to the EU average.

The Bank of Spain stated that Spain’s exports and imports with the USA constitute 4.4% of the gross domestic product, while trade with the USA on behalf of the EU is 10.1%.

Exports of Spanish goods to the United States account for 1% of Spain’s GDP, or 16 billion euros ($18.6 billion), making it Spain’s sixth-largest export market for goods, the bank said. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Spain’s main exports to the United States include pharmaceutical products, olive oil, refined gas and electrical transformers.

Spain’s stance on the Iran conflict is the latest flare-up in its relations with the Trump administration.

Sánchez has been an outspoken critic of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and drew Trump’s ire last year when Spain entered the war. NATO’s promise was abandoned Increasing members’ defense spending to 5% of GDP. At the time, the Spanish government said it could meet its estimated defense needs by spending less (only 2.1% of GDP); it was a move that Trump publicly criticized and threatened with tariffs in response.

Suman Naishadham reported from Madrid and Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, ​​Spain. Sam McNeil contributed to this report from Brussels.

Trump said Tuesday he would: Cut off all trade with SpainIt comes a day after Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the United States to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain for any attack not covered by the UN convention.

Hours before Leavitt’s statements on Wednesday, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez He once again criticized the military actions of the United States and Israel in Iran, took a determined stance against commercial threats from Washington, and warned Iran against Iran. war in the middle east He was at risk of “playing Russian roulette” at the expense of the lives of millions of people.

“We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and also contrary to our values ​​and interests, just because we are afraid that someone will retaliate,” Sánchez said in a televised speech.

Sánchez, considered Europe’s last great progressive leader, called US and Israeli attacks on Iran an “unfair” and “dangerous” military intervention.

It was unclear how Trump would cut trade with European Union member Spain. The EU conducts trade negotiations on behalf of all its 27 member states.

Asked in an interview on CNBC whether a trade embargo on Spain was possible, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that “it would be a combination effort.” He did not comment further, but said Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases in the attack on Iran over the weekend endangered the lives of Americans.

“Anything that slows our ability to launch and sustain this war in the fastest and most effective manner puts American lives at risk,” Bessent said. “Spaniards are putting American lives at risk.”

On Wednesday, Sánchez expressed concern that attacks on Iran could lead to another costly military quagmire in the Middle East, similar to past American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In short, the position of the Spanish government can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez said. “No to war.”

The EU said it would protect its interests and work to stabilize trade relations with the United States. signed a trade agreement Last year, after months of economic uncertainty related to Trump’s tariff attack.

“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and their citizens and are ready to take action, if necessary, to protect EU interests through our common trade policy,” European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said.

After Spain rejected U.S. use of its bases, Trump said Tuesday “we can use their bases if we want,” referring to the Rota and Morón facilities in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share but remain under Spanish command.

“We can just fly and drive,” Trump said. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

The threats from Washington on Tuesday were the latest example of the US president using the threat of tariffs or trade embargoes as punishment. Last month, the US Supreme Court ruled Trump’s sweeping global tariffsHe says emergency powers do not allow the president to unilaterally impose broad tariffs.

But Trump argues that the court allowed him to instead impose full-scale embargoes on other countries of his choosing.

Spain’s main business groups have expressed concern about the trade threat, calling the United States “a key partner economically and politically.”

“We believe that our commercial relations will not be affected in any way as a result,” Spanish chambers of commerce CEOE, CEPYME and ATA said in a statement on Tuesday.

Last year, Spain’s central bank published a report concluding that Europe’s fourth-largest economy was relatively weak in the face of Trump’s tariffs compared to the EU average.

The Bank of Spain stated that Spain’s exports and imports with the USA constitute 4.4% of the gross domestic product, while trade with the USA on behalf of the EU is 10.1%.

Exports of Spanish goods to the United States account for 1% of Spain’s GDP, or 16 billion euros ($18.6 billion), making it Spain’s sixth-largest export market for goods, the bank said. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Spain’s main exports to the United States include pharmaceutical products, olive oil, refined gas and electrical transformers.

Spain’s stance on the Iran conflict is the latest flare-up in its relations with the Trump administration.

Sánchez has been an outspoken critic of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and drew Trump’s ire last year when Spain entered the war. NATO’s promise was abandoned Increasing members’ defense spending to 5% of GDP. At the time, the Spanish government said it could meet its estimated defense needs by spending less (only 2.1% of GDP); it was a move that Trump publicly criticized and threatened with tariffs in response.

Suman Naishadham reported from Madrid and Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, ​​Spain. Sam McNeil contributed to this report from Brussels.