MADRID, Spain.— This Wednesday, the president of the government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejónagain criticized the military actions of the United States and Israel in Iranstood firm against the new trade threats from Washington and warned that the war in the middle east posed the risk of “play Russian roulette” with millions of lives.
“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez said in a televised speech.
The US threatens Spain with an end to trade
He President Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday with put an end al United States trade with Spain due to the Madrid’s refusal to allow The United States uses joint military bases in the country for their attacks against Iran.
Pedro Sánchez has described the attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran as an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” military intervention.
It is unclear how Trump would cut off trade with Spain, a member of the European Union. The EU negotiates trade on behalf of its 27 members.
🚨 Scott Bessent just ripped Spain’s leftist government to shreds for stabbing America in the back. While NATO allies step up, Spain sits there free riding off US power and refusing to pull its weight. Worse than that, they slowed down US operations and put American lives at risk… pic.twitter.com/38DoMgBsmO
— ⁿᵉʷˢ Barron Trump 🇺🇸 (@BarronTNews_) March 4, 2026
When asked in an interview with CNBC whether it would be possible to impose a trade embargo on Spain, Secretary of the United States Treasury, Scott Bessantsaid Wednesday that “it would be a combined effort.” He gave no details but said Madrid’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases in the weekend attack on Iran put American lives at risk.
“Anything that slows our ability to engage and prosecute this war as quickly and effectively puts American lives at risk,” Bessent said. “The Spanish put American lives at risk.”
Sánchez remembers the attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan
The Spanish leader on Wednesday expressed concern that attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel could lead to another costly military quagmire in the Middle East, similar to past U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Ultimately, the position of the Spanish government is summarized in four words,” Sánchez said. “No to war”.
The EU said on Wednesday it would protect its interests and work to stabilize its trade relationship with the United States, with which it reached a trade deal last year after months of economic uncertainty over Trump’s tariff offensive.
“We maintain full solidarity with all Member States and all their citizens and, through our common commercial policy, we are ready to act if necessary to safeguard the interests of the EU,” said the EU spokesperson. European Commission, Olof Gill.
Spain denies the use of military bases to the US.
After Spain did not authorize American use of its bases, Trump said Tuesday that “we could use their base if we want,” referring to the Rota and Morón facilities in southern Spain, which the United States and Spain share but which remain under Spanish command. “We could just fly up and use it,” Trump said. “No one is going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of #SpainJosé Manuel Albares, described the military operation of #USA e #Israel contra #Iranpointing out that it does not fit into the Charter of the United Nations.
Albares was exhaustive when assuring that… pic.twitter.com/0V8RYEWK8l
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) March 2, 2026
Concern in the business sector
Spain’s main business groups expressed concern about the trade threat from the United States, calling the country a “fundamental partner from an economic and political point of view.”
“We trust that ultimately our commercial relations will not be affected in any way,” Spanish business organizations CEOE, CEPYME and ATA said on Tuesday.
The Bank of Spain issued a report last year that concluded that Europe’s fourth-largest economy was relatively protected compared to the EU average when it came to exposure to Trump’s tariffs.
Spain’s exports and imports with the United States represented 4.4% of GDP, the Bank of Spain said, while trade with the United States for the EU as a whole was 10.1%.
Exports of Spanish goods to the United States represented 1% of Spain’s GDP, equivalent to 16 billion euros, about 18.6 billion dollars, making the United States the sixth largest export market for Spanish products, the bank concluded. Pharmaceutical products, olive oil, refined gas and electrical transformers are among Spain’s main exports to the United States, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Previous disagreements between Sánchez and Trump
Spain’s position on the conflict in Iran is the most recent episode of tension in its relationship with the Trump government.
Sánchez was an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza and attracted Trump’s ire last year when Spain backed away from NATO’s commitment to have members increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. At the time, the Spanish government said it could cover its estimated defense needs by spending less—just 2.1% of its GDP—a move that Trump harshly criticized and also threatened to impose tariffs in response.
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