An outlier for condemning Israel’s Gaza genocide, Spain says no to Iran war
#Spain#Trump#Iran#Gaza#US-Spain relations#NATO#EU solidarity#Trade war
📌 Key Takeaways
Spain refuses US military bases for Iran strikes despite Trump's trade threats
Sanchez reaffirms opposition to US-Israel war on Iran as 'unjustifiable' and 'dangerous'
Spain maintains outlier status in Europe for condemning Israel's Gaza campaign
EU expresses solidarity with Spain, limiting potential US economic retaliation
Public opinion in Spain largely opposes Trump's foreign policies
📖 Full Retelling
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defied US President Donald Trump on March 4, 2026, by reaffirming Spain's opposition to the war waged by Washington and Israel against Iran, despite Trump's threat to cut off all commercial ties with Madrid after Spain refused to let American military bases be used for strikes on Iran. Trump's rebuke came during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where he declared 'Spain has been terrible' and vowed to sever all trade relations, stating 'We don't want anything to do with Spain.' Sanchez responded with a televised nationwide address emphasizing 'no to the war,' warning that 'humanity's great disasters start' when conflicts are prioritized over diplomacy.
Spain's position cements its status as an outlier in Europe, having consistently condemned Israel's military campaign in Gaza and being among the first European nations to recognize a State of Palestine in 2024. The dispute escalated after the US relocated 15 aircraft, including refueling tankers, from Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain following Madrid's refusal to cooperate with Iran strike operations. Public opinion in Spain largely supports Sanchez's stance, with polls showing over 50% of Spaniards opposing Trump's foreign policies, making them the third most critical nationality after the French and Belgians.
While Trump's trade threat has raised concerns, analysts suggest the US may have limited ability to inflict significant commercial damage on Spain due to its EU membership and existing trade relationships. The US had a $4.8 billion trade surplus with Spain in 2025, and the European Union has expressed solidarity with Madrid, stating it expects Washington to abide by trade agreements and is 'ready to act' to safeguard EU interests. Trade experts note that Trump would need to declare a national emergency to justify substantial trade restrictions against Spain, a move considered unlikely given Spain's limited strategic importance to US interests compared to other EU nations.
🏷️ Themes
International Relations, Diplomatic Conflict, European Unity
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Europe and the fourth-most populous European Union (EU) member state. Spanning the major...
# Iran
**Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...
# North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
The **North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)** is a prominent intergovernmental military alliance consisting of 32 member states across Europe and North America. Established as a cornerstone of post-World War II international relations, the organizatio...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
News | Israel-Iran conflict An outlier for condemning Israel’s Gaza genocide, Spain says no to Iran war Spain’s socialist president is locked in a war of words with Washington, which has threatened to cut trade ties. Listen to this article | 5 mins By Graham Keeley Published On 4 Mar 2026 4 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google Madrid, Spain – Spain has pledged to keep opposing the war waged by the United States and Israel on Iran after President Donald Trump said Washington would cut off all commercial links with Madrid. Trump’s rebuke on Tuesday came after Washington’s European ally refused to let the US military use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Ukraine to help down Iran’s drones: How Russia’s war rewrote the playbook list 2 of 4 Spain refuses to let US use bases for Iran attacks list 3 of 4 Trump: ‘We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain’ list 4 of 4 Spain baulks at Trump’s threat to cut off all trade over NATO, Iran stance end of list “Spain has been terrible,” the president told reporters on Tuesday during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz , adding, “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of the few left-wing leaders in Europe to condemn the US-Israel attack on Iran as “unjustifiable” and “dangerous”, said in a televised nationwide address on Wednesday that Spain’s position was “no to the war”. “This is how humanity’s great disasters start … The world cannot solve its problems with conflicts and bombs.” His position cements Spain’s status as an outlier in Europe; Madrid has been one of the few European nations to consistently condemn Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. At the Patron Bar in Malasana, Madrid, Gema Tamarit watched Sanchez’s address on the television in the restaurant, which turned up the volume. “That Trump is mad. We are not afraid of...
