President cites Spain’s refusal to allow base access for Iran strikes and voices frustration with UK restrictions as well.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said March 3 that he has directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off trade relations with Spain after Madrid declined to permit U.S. forces to use Spanish military bases for operations tied to strikes on Iran.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said Spain had refused access to its facilities.
“Spain actually said that we can’t use their bases,” Trump said. “We could use their base if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to. But they were unfriendly, and so I told them, we don’t want to.”
The president added, “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in a March 2 interview with Telecinco that U.S. forces would not be permitted to use Spanish bases for the Iran-related operation.
“Spanish bases are not being used for this operation, and they will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the United States or for anything that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,” Albares said.
During the Oval Office meeting, Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Spain’s defense spending levels within NATO, reiterating concerns that some European allies are not meeting alliance commitments.
In addition to Spain, Trump said he was frustrated with the United Kingdom following reports that British officials declined to allow the United States to use the Diego Garcia base for strikes related to Iran.
In a March 2 interview with The Telegraph, Trump said he was “very disappointed” with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the reported decision.
The comments come amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations targeting Iran. The administration has indicated the campaign could continue for weeks.
Neither Spain nor the United Kingdom immediately responded to Trump’s remarks regarding trade and military cooperation.
Original article
Comments