No Use of Bases, Trump to Cut US–Spain Trade Ties

Washington — US President Donald Trump said he would sever trade ties with Spain after the United States could not use Spain’s military bases to attack Iran. ‘We will cut off all trade with Spain. We do not want to deal with Spain any longer,’ he told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday (3 March) while receiving German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On Monday, Spain said the US would not be allowed to use Spanish military bases to attack Iran, underscoring full authority over all facilities it possesses. ‘Bases under Spanish sovereignty will not be used for purposes outside the agreement with the United States or that are incompatible with the UN Charter,’ said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares in an interview with El Diario. Albares emphasised that even though the bases are jointly used, Spain retains ultimate authority.

Trump also voiced his frustration with Britain for deciding to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in return for a 99-year lease to operate a joint US–UK military base on Diego Garcia. The base on the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago has played a key role in supporting US military operations in the Middle East for decades.

Although not naming Diego Garcia directly, Trump said Britain had been ‘very uncooperative’ when the US attacked Iran and described Britain’s stance as ‘surprising.’ ‘They are destroying relations. Very embarrassing,’ he added. He said the US would need three to four days to establish the landing location at Diego Garcia. ‘It would be easier if we could land there rather than fly for several more hours. So we are very surprised. What we are facing now is not Winston Churchill,’ Trump said, comparing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with a World War II-era British leader.

Source: Anadolu