Spain has barred American military aircraft from its airspace and key bases in a striking act of defiance against Washington’s conduct in the Iran war.
In a move that risks a significant rift within NATO, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that U.S. fighter jets and refuelling aircraft involved in the conflict would no longer be allowed to use facilities at Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base, nor transit through Spanish airspace.
This decision effectively cuts off a key logistical corridor for American operations in the Middle East, complicating flight routes and refuelling chains at a critical moment in the conflict.
Sánchez said: “We have denied the United States the use of the Rota and Morón air bases for this illegal war. All flight plans involving actions related to the operation in Iran have been rejected. All of them, including those for refuelling aircraft.”
Sánchez, one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Donald Trump, has characterised the war as an “illegal” intervention and made it clear that Spain will not assist. “We are not going to be complicit in something that is harmful to the world and goes against our values and interests,” he stated earlier this month, echoing a message that has resonated throughout Spanish politics under the slogan: “No to the war.”
The standoff has triggered a sharp response from the White House. During a meeting with Friedrich Merz, President Trump warned that the United States could retaliate economically. “We are going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he said, reviving a threat he had previously mentioned regarding Madrid’s defence spending, though he had not followed through at that time.
Spanish officials have pushed back against claims from Washington that Madrid had softened its position. While condemning Tehran’s leadership, Mr Sánchez has insisted that the conflict represents an unjustified escalation that Spain cannot support.
The dispute highlights deeper tensions within NATO, where Spain has already diverged from its allies on military spending. Madrid remains the only member that has refused to agree to a proposed target of 5% of GDP for defence spending, instead securing a commitment capped at 2.1%, a level Mr Sánchez argues is both realistic and sufficient.
Trump has hinted that Spain’s stance could have consequences for its role within the alliance, although no formal steps have been taken yet. For now, Spain’s decision marks one of the most significant breaks by a European ally since the conflict began, raising questions not only about operational logistics but also about the cohesion of the Western alliance as the war intensifies.
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