U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States could use military bases in Spain “without approval,” escalating tensions with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally as the standoff with Iran intensifies.
Speaking at the White House on March 3 alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump addressed rising hostilities linked to Iran, praised several European allies for increasing defense contributions, but sharply criticized Spain.
He accused the country of failing to meet spending commitments and taking an unfriendly stance toward U.S. military operations.
“Some of the European nations have been helpful, and some haven’t,” Trump said. He singled out Germany for praise, stating, “Germany has been great. He’s been terrific,” in apparent reference to German leadership.
President Trump also commended NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, saying, “I think the head of NATO, Mark, is fantastic.”
Trump says U.S. could use its bases in Spain “without approval”
However, he reserved strong criticism for Spain, adding that the United States would respond economically.
“Spain has been terrible,” he said. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
The president claimed that Spain was the only NATO member that refused to agree to raise defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), a level he said he had requested of European nations.
He further alleged that Spain had denied U.S. forces access to its bases but insisted they could still use them if needed.
“Spain actually said that we can’t use their bases. And that’s all right. We don’t want to. We could use their bases if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody is going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”
Spain hosts key U.S. military facilities, including Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base, which have long served as logistical hubs for American operations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East under bilateral defense agreements and NATO frameworks.
Standing beside President Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced strong support for Washington’s campaign.
“We support the United States and Israel in their efforts to rid the world of this terrible terrorist regime,” the German chancellor said.
Trump had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, citing difficulties related to landing access to the Chagos Islands.
The UK in 2025 agreed to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back the strategically vital island of Diego Garcia for 99 years.
He framed the issue as a logistical complication amid heightened operational demands. “I’m not happy with the U.K. either,” President Trump said.
Referring to the lease arrangement, he stated:
“He made a lease of the island. Somebody came and took it away from him. And it’s taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land. It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours.”
Also Read: Witkoff Reveals How Iran Bragged About Enriched Uranium During Negotiations
Prime Minister Starmer has defended the UK’s position, telling lawmakers he does not believe “in regime change from the skies.”
“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump added, invoking the former British prime minister in criticizing current leadership decisions.
However, the UK government will deploy HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defense destroyer capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, along with helicopters equipped with counter-drone systems, to the eastern Mediterranean following a strike on an RAF base in Cyprus. The warship is expected to take about a week to reach the region.
Oil prices surge amid expanding conflict
Meanwhile, oil prices have surged in the fourth day since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran to a 13-month high after Tehran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping corridor for global energy supplies.
UK gas prices have climbed to a three-year high, adding pressure to European economies already grappling with inflation.
Israel’s airspace is set to gradually reopen after limited flights resumed from the UAE overnight, though thousands of foreign nationals remain stranded in the region.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that “the hardest hits are yet to come,” signaling that Washington does not view the initial strikes as the peak of operations.
Also Read: “Act of war”- Iran Warns European Nations Against Joining Conflict with US and Israel
President Trump’s remarks on Tuesday also hinted at uncertainty about Iran’s political future.
“I guess there was another hit on the new leadership,” he said. “Most of the people I had in mind for leadership are dead. We have another group, and they also may be dead.”
He acknowledged that the “worst case” outcome would be a successor regime “as bad as the previous regime,” raising questions about Washington’s long-term objectives.
The president said U.S. defense manufacturers were operating under emergency authorities to accelerate munitions production, describing supply levels as effectively inexhaustible.
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