This NATO Leader Rejects U.S. Help, Lectures Trump on Action in Iran

Madrid has rejected a request from United States President Donald Trump to use Spanish bases to attack Iran, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stating that his country will not become involved in Middle East military action. In a televised national address on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, Sánchez emphasised that Spain’s policy is clear: no to war. The left-wing leader asserted that Spain’s position reflects a broad international desire to avoid further conflict that could destabilise the global economy and security order. The tensions followed Trump’s threat to sever all trade ties with Spain in response to Madrid’s refusal to permit US fighter aircraft to operate from Spanish bases.

Sánchez insisted that Spain would not bow to economic intimidation to support policies deemed harmful to global stability, saying: “We will not be a mouthpiece for something dangerous for the world that runs contrary to our values and interests, merely for fear of retaliation.” He added that his refusal to back the war plan is supported by broad global public opinion and mirrors the wishes of many governments and millions of citizens across Europe, North America, and the Middle East who do not want more war or more uncertainty tomorrow.

Trump, for his part, accused Spain of being an unreliable ally during a White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and pressed on the issue of Nato defence spending, claiming Sánchez has failed to meet NATO’s pledge to raise defence expenditure to five percent of GDP. The feud adds to existing disagreements over Spain’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza and US-led operations against Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela regime.

As background, US forces currently use the naval base at Rota and the air base at Morón in Spain, bases with a long history of use, including during the 2003 invasion of Iraq under the government of José María Aznar.