Washington, 04 March (H.S.): US President Donald Trump escalated transatlantic tensions on Tuesday by vowing to sever all trade with Spain after Madrid refused to open its military bases for American strikes on Iran, a move that has drawn sharp rebukes from European allies amid the ongoing conflict.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump lambasted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's left-wing government for blocking access to key facilities like Naval Base Rota and Morón Air Base, which host US forces.
Spain has been terrible, Trump declared, directing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all dealings with Spain, adding, We don't want anything to do with Spain. He tied the threat to Spain's resistance against his push for NATO members to hike defense spending to 5% of GDP, claiming the US shoulders an unfair burden.
Trump reserved equal ire for Britain, despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer's eventual approval of limited US access to bases like RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for specific and limited defensive purposes.
I'm not happy with the UK... This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with, Trump remarked, criticizing delays that forced longer flights and Starmer's deal to return the Chagos Islands—home to Diego Garcia—to Mauritius.
Starmer had initially denied offensive use of UK bases, including those in Cyprus hit by Iranian drones, citing international law.
The threats come days into a US-Israel air campaign against Iran, launched Saturday, which has targeted missile sites, airports, and command centers, prompting Iranian retaliation including strikes on Gulf cities like Dubai and Doha. Pentagon reports warn of depleting missile stocks if the war drags on, while Trump signals a potential third wave.
Legal experts question Trump's authority to enact a full trade cutoff, following a February 2026 US Supreme Court ruling that struck down his prior use of emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for tariffs, affirming Congress's sole prerogative over such measures. Bilateral trade remains substantial, with US exports to Spain hovering around $22 billion annually, dominated by energy and pharmaceuticals.
Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reiterated that bases would only support UN Charter-compliant activities, underscoring Madrid's stance against offensive operations. No immediate response has come from Sánchez, as European leaders navigate the fallout from the Iran crisis now spilling into alliance fractures.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
