Reacting to Trump's Outrage, Spain's PM: No to War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s anger over Madrid’s refusal to allow American aircraft to use Spain’s military bases to attack Iran. The government’s position can be summed up in four words: “No to the war,” he said in a televised address, according to AFP, on Wednesday 4 March 2026. “We will not be involved in something that harms the world and conflicts with our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation,” the Spanish leader asserted. “We oppose this disaster,” Sánchez added, noting that his stance is supported by “many other governments and millions of people across Europe, North America, and the Middle East who do not want more war or uncertainty in the future”. Earlier, Trump described Spain as a “very bad” ally. “Spain is very bad,” Trump told reporters as he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Tuesday 3 March local time. “We will cut all trade with Spain. We do not want to have relations with Spain,” Trump said, cited by Al Arabiya and AFP, on Wednesday 4 March 2026. Trump’s anger followed Spain’s condemnation of the war instigated by the US and Israel against Iran. Spain also barred the US from using joint bases in its territory to attack Iran. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles, as cited by Politico, on Tuesday 3 March 2026, said that the US had pulled its military aircraft from bases in Spain after Madrid barred the use of those bases to attack Iran. Robles emphasised at a press conference at Armilla Air Base on Monday 2 March that the mission involving bases in Spain must “operate within the framework of international law”. She added that military installations on Spanish soil would be forbidden “to provide support unless required from a humanitarian perspective”. The 1953 treaty between Spain and the US gives Madrid the right to determine how American troops stationed on its territory are used. Robles stressed that bases in Spain did not participate in the attack on Iran on Saturday 28 February and will not be used for “maintenance and support” operations. Robles added that Spain’s policy on the use of its bases does not reflect support for the Iranian regime, which she described as “horrific and dictatorial”. “The solution can never involve the use of violence,” she warned.