Madrid, 05 March (H.S.):

Spain has categorically denied granting the United States access to its military bases for operations against Iran, directly contradicting White House claims and escalating a bitter diplomatic row over the escalating Middle East conflict.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares dismissed assertions from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stated that Madrid had relented following President Donald Trump's stern warnings. The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran, and the use of our bases has not changed one iota, Albares declared on Cadena Ser radio, refuting any shift in policy.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a staunch progressive, reinforced this stance in a televised address, labeling US and Israeli strikes on Iran as unjustifiable and dangerous. He warned that such actions risked plunging the region into a quagmire reminiscent of Iraq and Afghanistan, vowing Spain would not be complicit in something bad for the world despite trade threats from Washington.

Tensions Flare Over Strategic Bases and Trade Threats

The dispute centers on key US-operated facilities like Rota and Morón in southern Spain, which fall under Spanish sovereignty. Trump had threatened to sever all trade ties after Albares rejected base usage for strikes outside UN auspices, prompting Sánchez to decry the pressure as economic coercion.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent countered that Spain's refusal endangers American lives by hampering swift military responses in the Iran theater. While Trump mused about unilateral base access—We could just fly in and use it—legal experts note EU membership complicates any US embargo, as Brussels handles bloc-wide trade.

Spain's exports to the US, including pharmaceuticals and olive oil, represent just 1% of its GDP, cushioning potential fallout per Bank of Spain analysis. Business lobbies urged de-escalation, emphasizing Washington as a vital partner.

This clash unfolds against a volatile backdrop: US forces recently sank an Iranian vessel returning from India after naval drills, with reports of 87 casualties and strikes on nine warships in Operation Epic Fury near the Strait of Hormuz. Sri Lankan lawmakers voiced alarms for regional stability, while speculation swirls over Pakistan's potential involvement.

Spain's defiance marks another rift with Trump's administration, following criticisms of its Gaza stance and reluctance to meet NATO's elevated defense spending targets. Sánchez distilled Madrid's creed into four words: No to the war.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar