Spain rejects US threat to suspend all trade with Spain due to NATO and Iran

US Relocates Aircraft from Spanish Military Bases

The United States has relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from military bases in southern Spain. The move comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off all trade with the country following its refusal to allow the use of its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

Spanish authorities have stated that they will comply with international law and bilateral EU-US trade agreements. In a statement, the Spanish government said it has the necessary resources to mitigate any potential impact from a trade embargo by the US.

The relocation of aircraft was prompted by Spain’s decision not to allow its military bases to be used for attacks on Iran. The country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the attacks as a breach of international law and called for dialogue to end the war on Iran.

US Secretary of State Jose Manuel Albares stated that Spanish bases are not being used for this operation and will not be used for anything not included in the agreement with the US or in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. The relocation of aircraft was carried out at the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “Spain has been terrible” for not allowing the use of its bases. He stated that he had instructed his secretary of the Treasury to cut off all dealings with Spain, including trade. This move is part of a broader trend of US President Trump’s criticism of Spain and other European nations.

The relocation of aircraft does not appear to have significantly impacted Spain’s economy, as the country has maintained a trade surplus with the US for the fourth year in a row. The US Census Bureau reported that the US had a trade surplus with Spain of $4.8 billion in 2025, with exports totaling $26.1 billion and imports totaling $21.3 billion.

Source: Al Jazeera