A diplomatic dispute between the United States and Spain over the war in Iran escalated Wednesday as the two governments issued sharply conflicting statements about whether Spanish military bases could be used to support U.S. operations in the Middle East.
The clash unfolded publicly within hours, underscoring growing strain between Washington and one of its NATO allies as the Trump administration presses ahead with military action against Iran and warns of economic consequences for countries that resist.
Spain Denies White House Claim of Cooperation
The dispute sharpened after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Spain had agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military following President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off trade with Madrid.
“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear,” Leavitt told reporters. “And it’s my understanding over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military. And so I know that the U.S. military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain.”
Moments later, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares publicly rejected that claim, saying Spain’s position had not changed.
“I can refute the White House spokesperson,” Albares told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. “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.”
Trade Threats Spark Diplomatic Showdown
The standoff follows Trump’s warning Tuesday that the United States would “cut off all trade with Spain,” a threat delivered hours after Spanish officials said they would not authorize the use of jointly operated U.S.-Spanish bases for strikes not covered by the United Nations charter.
Albares had said earlier that Spain would not allow U.S. forces to use bases in southern Spain for military operations that fall outside international law, a position echoed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The White House response marked a sharp escalation, with Trump framing Spain’s refusal as a direct challenge to U.S. military strategy.
Spain Criticizes U.S., Israel Military Action in Iran
Sánchez doubled down on Spain’s opposition early Wednesday, criticizing U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran and warning that the conflict could spiral into a wider regional disaster.
“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez said in a nationally televised address.
Sánchez has repeatedly described the U.S. and Israeli strikes as an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” intervention, warning that the Middle East risks sliding into another prolonged and destabilizing war.
“In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez said. “No to the war.”
U.S. Officials Accuse Spain of Endangering Lives
Senior U.S. officials argued that Spain’s stance jeopardizes American troops and undermines military operations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that Spain’s refusal to allow base access during recent operations put U.S. lives at risk. Asked in an interview with CNBC whether a trade embargo against Spain would be possible, Bessent said such a move would require coordination but did not rule it out.
“It would be a combination effort,” Bessent said, without offering details. “Anything that slows down our ability to engage and prosecute this war in the fastest, most effective manner puts American lives at risk. The Spanish put American lives at risk.”
Trump echoed that sentiment Tuesday, asserting that the U.S. could use Spanish bases regardless of Madrid’s objections.
“We could use their base if we want,” Trump said, referring to the Rota and Morón installations in southern Spain, which host U.S. forces but remain under Spanish command. “We could just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”
EU Pushes Back on Trade Pressure
It remains unclear how Trump could unilaterally sever trade ties with Spain, which is part of the European Union. Trade policy is negotiated collectively by the EU on behalf of its 27 member states.
The European Commission said Wednesday it stands ready to protect EU interests and support member states facing economic pressure from Washington.
“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all its citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready to act if necessary to safeguard EU interests,” European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said.
The EU and the United States reached a trade agreement last year after months of uncertainty tied to Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda.
Trump’s Use of Trade as Leverage
Trump’s threat against Spain is the latest example of the president using trade measures as leverage in foreign policy disputes. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, ruling that emergency powers did not allow the president to impose them unilaterally.
Trump has since argued that the court’s decision still allows him to pursue full trade embargoes against individual countries, a claim that legal experts continue to debate.
Spain’s business community reacted with concern, warning that deteriorating trade relations could hurt both economies.
“We trust that our trade relations will ultimately not be affected in any way,” Spain’s major business organizations, CEOE, CEPYME and ATA, said in a joint statement, calling the U.S. a “key partner from an economic and political standpoint.”
Spain’s Economic Exposure to U.S. Trade
Spain’s central bank has previously assessed that the country is relatively insulated from U.S. trade retaliation compared with other EU members.
According to a Bank of Spain report released last year, trade with the United States accounts for about 4.4 percent of Spain’s gross domestic product, compared with 10.1 percent for the EU as a whole.
Exports of Spanish goods to the U.S. represent about 1 percent of Spain’s GDP, or roughly 16 billion euros ($18.6 billion), making the U.S. Spain’s sixth-largest export market. Key exports include pharmaceutical products, olive oil, refined gas and electrical transformers, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
A Pattern of Strained Relations
The dispute over Iran marks the latest flare-up in an already tense relationship between Madrid and the Trump administration.
Sánchez has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza and drew Trump’s ire last year when Spain declined to meet NATO’s target for member states to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense. Spanish officials argued that the country could meet its defense needs by spending closer to 2.1 percent of GDP, a stance Trump sharply criticized and threatened with trade penalties.
As fighting continues in Iran and diplomatic rhetoric hardens, the disagreement over Spain’s military bases has become a flashpoint in a broader struggle over alliance politics, trade leverage and the limits of U.S. power in Europe.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 3/4/26, 3:40 p.m. ET: This article and headline were updated with Spain’s response to the White House’s remarks.
Update 3/4/26, 5:49 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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