President of France Emmanuel Macron has expressed solidarity and full\nsupport for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez amid a threat by the\nUnited States to sever trade relations entirely. The move sharpens the\nrift in transatlantic ties after Spain refused to become a\nstepping\u2011stone for US military action in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
The threat of a trade embargo was issued by United States President\nDonald Trump on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. Trump fumed that Madrid had not\nallowed the US military to use the Rota and Mor\u00f3n Air Bases to launch an\nattack on Iran. He also criticised Spain\u2019s reluctance to raise NATO\ndefence spending to 5% of GDP.<\/p>\n
Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares dismissed White House\nclaims that Spain had begun cooperating within hours. Albares stressed\nthat Madrid\u2019s position remains consistent: military bases on Spanish\nsoil will not be used for unilateral military actions outside the\nframework of international law.<\/p>\n
\u2018Bases under Spanish sovereignty will not be used for anything beyond\nagreements with the United States or anything not in line with the UN\nCharter,\u2019 Albares said. Spain regards the joint US-Israel strike on\nTehran on 28 February as an action outside the legitimate collective\npath.<\/p>\n
The tension has sparked high volatility in global financial markets.\nData monitoring on Thursday, 5 March 2026, showed the rupiah trading\naround 16,889 to 16,896 per US dollar. Uncertainty about the direction\nof US trade policy under the Trump administration has led investors to\nfavour safe\u2011haven assets.<\/p>\n
The conflict stems from a massive air offensive carried out by the US\nand Israel on Saturday, 28 February 2026 targeting Tehran\u2019s leadership.\nIranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali\nKhamenei in the attack. In response, Iran launched ballistic missile\nstrikes against US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain,\nfurther souring security in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
Macron stated that the strike was conducted outside international law\nand France cannot endorse it. Macron\u2019s backing for Spain is seen as an\neffort to strengthen the European Union bloc in facing the increasingly\naggressive and transactional foreign policy of the United States.<\/p>\n
US\u2013Iran tensions escalate. President Donald Trump has reportedly\nprepared a military base in the Middle East and is weighing a limited\nstrike in pursuit of a nuclear deal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/macron-backs-spain-over-trump-threat-to-sever-trade-ties-completely-1772701917", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }