Spain’s Government Denies Cooperating With U.S. Operations In Mideast, Contradicting White House | EUROtoday

MADRID (AP) — A diplomatic tussle between the United States and Spain over the battle in Iran intensified on Wednesday when the governments exchanged contradictory statements over the doable use of Spanish navy bases by American armed forces for operations within the Middle East.

Moments after a White House spokesperson stated that the Spanish authorities in Madrid had agreed to assist the U.S., Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares got here out and flatly denied that the European authorities had modified its place.

“I can refute (the White House spokesperson),” Albares instructed Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. “The position of the Spanish government regarding the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iran and the use of our bases has not changed one iota.”

The disagreement broke out on Tuesday when U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to chop off commerce with Madrid, hours after the Spanish prime minister stated that his authorities wouldn’t “be complicit in something that is bad for the world.”

Albares spoke on Wednesday night in Madrid shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had stated “with respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear.

“And it’s my understanding over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military,” Leavitt had stated. “And so I know that the U.S. military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain.”

Trump on Tuesday stated that he was going to “cut off all trade with Spain,” a day after Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that his nation wouldn’t permit the U.S. to make use of collectively operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not coated by the U.N. constitution.

Hours earlier than Leavitt’s feedback on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez once more criticized the U.S. and Israel’s navy actions in Iran, standing agency towards commerce threats from Washington and warning that the battle within the Middle East risked “playing Russian roulette” with thousands and thousands of lives.

“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez stated in a televised deal with.

Sánchez, extensively thought to be Europe’s final main progressive chief, has referred to as the U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” navy intervention.

It wasn’t clear how Trump would have reduce off commerce with Spain, which is a member of the European Union. The EU negotiates commerce on behalf of all its 27 member states.

When requested in an interview with CNBC whether or not a commerce embargo with Spain could be doable, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Wednesday “it would be a combination effort.” He didn’t clarify additional, however stated Spain’s refusal to permit the U.S. to make use of its bases within the weekend assault on Iran endangered American lives.

“Anything that slows down our ability to engage and prosecute this war in the fastest, most effective manner puts American lives at risk,” Bessent stated. “The Spanish put American lives at risk.”

On Wednesday, Sánchez expressed concern that the assaults on Iran might result in one other expensive navy quagmire within the Middle East, much like the previous American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez stated. “No to the war.”

The EU stated that it might defend its pursuits and work to stabilize its commerce relationship with the U.S, with which it struck a commerce deal final 12 months after months of financial uncertainty over Trump’s tariff blitz.

“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all its citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready to act if necessary to safeguard EU interests,” European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill stated.

After Spain denied U.S. use of its bases, Trump on Tuesday stated “we could use their base if we want,” referencing the Rota and Morón installations in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share, however which stay beneath Spanish command.

“We could just fly in and use it,” Trump stated. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

Tuesday’s threats from Washington have been simply the most recent occasion of the U.S. president wielding the specter of tariffs or commerce embargoes as punishment. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s far-reaching international tariffs, saying emergency powers don’t permit the president to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs.

However, Trump maintains that the court docket permits him to as an alternative impose full-scale embargoes on different nations of his selecting.

Spain’s most important enterprise teams expressed issues over the commerce risk, calling the U.S. a “key partner from an economic and political standpoint.”

“We trust that our trade relations will ultimately not be affected in any way,” the Spanish enterprise chambers CEOE, CEPYME and ATA stated Tuesday.

Last 12 months, Spain’s central financial institution issued a report that concluded Europe’s fourth-largest financial system was comparatively cushioned in contrast with the EU common when it got here to publicity to tariffs by Trump.

Spain’s exports and imports with the U.S. accounted for 4.4% of gross home product, the Bank of Spain stated, whereas commerce with the U.S. for the EU as a complete was 10.1%.

Exports of Spanish items to the U.S. accounted for 1% of Spain’s GDP, or 16 billion euros ($18.6 billion), the financial institution stated, making it Spain’s sixth largest export marketplace for items. Pharmaceutical merchandise, olive oil, refined fuel and electrical transformers are amongst Spain’s most important exports to the U.S., in line with the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Spain’s place on the Iran battle is the most recent flare-up in its relationship with the Trump administration.

Sánchez was an outspoken critic of the Israel-Hamas battle in Gaza and attracted Trump’s ire final 12 months when Spain backed out of NATO’s pledge to extend protection spending by members to five% of GDP. At the time, the Spanish authorities stated it might meet its estimated protection wants by spending much less — simply 2.1% of GDP — a transfer that Trump roundly criticized and likewise threatened with tariffs in response.

Suman Naishadham reported from Madrid, and Joseph Wilson from Barcelona, Spain. Sam McNeil contributed to this report from Brussels.

Trump on Tuesday stated that he was going to “ cut off all trade with Spain,” a day after Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that his nation wouldn’t permit the U.S. to make use of collectively operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not coated by the U.N. constitution.

Hours earlier than Leavitt’s feedback on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez once more criticized the U.S. and Israel’s navy actions in Iran, standing agency towards commerce threats from Washington and warning that the battle within the Middle East risked “playing Russian roulette” with thousands and thousands of lives.

“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez stated in a televised deal with.

Sánchez, extensively thought to be Europe’s final main progressive chief, has referred to as the U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” navy intervention.

It wasn’t clear how Trump would have reduce off commerce with Spain, which is a member of the European Union. The EU negotiates commerce on behalf of all its 27 member states.

When requested in an interview with CNBC whether or not a commerce embargo with Spain could be doable, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Wednesday “it would be a combination effort.” He didn’t clarify additional, however stated Spain’s refusal to permit the U.S. to make use of its bases within the weekend assault on Iran endangered American lives.

“Anything that slows down our ability to engage and prosecute this war in the fastest, most effective manner puts American lives at risk,” Bessent stated. “The Spanish put American lives at risk.”

On Wednesday, Sánchez expressed concern that the assaults on Iran might result in one other expensive navy quagmire within the Middle East, much like the previous American interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez stated. “No to the war.”

The EU stated that it might defend its pursuits and work to stabilize its commerce relationship with the U.S, with which it struck a commerce deal final 12 months after months of financial uncertainty over Trump’s tariff blitz.

“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all its citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready to act if necessary to safeguard EU interests,” European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill stated.

After Spain denied U.S. use of its bases, Trump on Tuesday stated “we could use their base if we want,” referencing the Rota and Morón installations in southern Spain that the U.S. and Spain share, however which stay beneath Spanish command.

“We could just fly in and use it,” Trump stated. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

Tuesday’s threats from Washington have been simply the most recent occasion of the U.S. president wielding the specter of tariffs or commerce embargoes as punishment. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s far-reaching international tariffs, saying emergency powers don’t permit the president to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs.

However, Trump maintains that the court docket permits him to as an alternative impose full-scale embargoes on different nations of his selecting.

Spain’s most important enterprise teams expressed issues over the commerce risk, calling the U.S. a “key partner from an economic and political standpoint.”

“We trust that our trade relations will ultimately not be affected in any way,” the Spanish enterprise chambers CEOE, CEPYME and ATA stated Tuesday.

Last 12 months, Spain’s central financial institution issued a report that concluded Europe’s fourth-largest financial system was comparatively cushioned in contrast with the EU common when it got here to publicity to tariffs by Trump.

Spain’s exports and imports with the U.S. accounted for 4.4% of gross home product, the Bank of Spain stated, whereas commerce with the U.S. for the EU as a complete was 10.1%.

Exports of Spanish items to the U.S. accounted for 1% of Spain’s GDP, or 16 billion euros ($18.6 billion), the financial institution stated, making it Spain’s sixth largest export marketplace for items. Pharmaceutical merchandise, olive oil, refined fuel and electrical transformers are amongst Spain’s most important exports to the U.S., in line with the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Spain’s place on the Iran battle is the most recent flare-up in its relationship with the Trump administration.

Sánchez was an outspoken critic of the Israel-Hamas battle in Gaza and attracted Trump’s ire final 12 months when Spain backed out of NATO’s pledge to extend protection spending by members to five% of GDP. At the time, the Spanish authorities stated it might meet its estimated protection wants by spending much less — simply 2.1% of GDP — a transfer that Trump roundly criticized and likewise threatened with tariffs in response.

Suman Naishadham reported from Madrid, and Joseph Wilson from Barcelona, Spain. Sam McNeil contributed to this report from Brussels.