Trump threatens Spain with trade cutoff over Iran war dispute
US president warns NATO ally after Madrid blocks use of joint military bases for strikes on Iran
By Abdullahi Yusuf
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to sever trade ties with Spain after the NATO ally barred the U.S. from using jointly operated military bases on its territory for strikes against Iran, escalating tensions with Madrid’s government, which has condemned the campaign as “reckless and illegal.”
“I think they’ve been very bad, very bad, not good at all. We may cut off trade with Spain,” Trump told reporters, adding that Spain has been “very bad to NATO” and does not “pay their fair share.”
Trump referenced NATO’s defense spending target of 5% of GDP, which Spain has consistently fallen short of, suggesting the combination of base access denial and spending shortfalls prompted his threat of economic retaliation.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government has refused to facilitate strikes it views as violating international law.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares responded by saying relations with Washington remain “operating normally” and that both countries’ embassies maintain regular diplomatic contact, a measured response suggesting Madrid hopes to de-escalate, even as Trump’s public threat signals Washington may be prepared to follow through unless Spain reverses course.
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