Less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade relations with Spain over its refusal to allow American forces to use Spanish military bases for operations against Iran, Spanish officials have firmly rejected White House claims that Madrid had agreed to cooperate.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt told reporters that Spain had “heard the president’s message loud and clear” and was now coordinating with the U.S. military. Levitt asserted that over the past several hours, Spain had “agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military” and that American forces were already in coordination with their Spanish counterparts.
Spain’s response was swift. Foreign Minister José Luis Albares denied Levitt’s claims, telling Spain’s Cadena Ser radio network: “I categorically deny this. Spain’s position on the war in the Middle East, on the attack on Iran, on the use of our bases, has not changed one comma.” He emphasized that the country’s stance remains firm: it will not participate in military operations outside international law or agreements.
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Albares highlighted that the 1953 bilateral agreement with the United States provides Madrid authority over the use of American forces stationed on Spanish soil. “There is an agreement, a bilateral accord, and outside the framework of that bilateral agreement, there will be no use of Spanish sovereign bases,” he said. “Any operation must be within the framework of the United Nations.”
The foreign minister also expressed bewilderment at Levitt’s statement, saying, “She might be the White House spokesperson, but I’m the foreign minister of Spain! I have no idea what she could be referring to or where that could be coming from.” Albares added that Spain had received messages of support from European partners throughout the day, reinforcing the country’s diplomatic position.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also addressed the situation in a televised statement earlier on Tuesday, condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. He reaffirmed that Spain had said “no to war” and would not allow its military bases to be used for operations that violate international law.
Albares further dismissed any notion of Spanish concern over potential American reprisals. “What does a country that respects international law and seeks peace have to fear?” he said.
He added that Spain’s membership in the European Union means it cannot be targeted with unilateral economic sanctions, and reaffirmed Spain’s long-standing economic and strategic partnership with the United States.
The foreign minister also criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for remaining silent while Trump issued threats against Spain. “This government has interacted with three German chancellors, Chancellor (Angela) Merkel, Chancellor (Olaf) Scholz, Chancellor Merz and I can’t imagine Merkel or Scholz standing by like this,” Albares said. He argued that Merz’s behavior did not reflect the values of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union or the European Union as a whole.
Officials in Madrid and Brussels have emphasized that trade and security relations with the United States remain intact, but sovereignty and adherence to international agreements remain non-negotiable.
In the hours following the White House statement, Spanish officials reinforced that nothing had changed regarding their position on Iran and the use of Spanish bases. The firm denial dismantled the narrative presented by the Trump administration and clarified Madrid’s stance to the international community.
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