Spain-Trump spat widens over Spanish opposition to Iran war : NPR

Protesters hold up photographs of slain Iranian supreme leader and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a demonstration against U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran in Barcelona, ​​Spain, on Wednesday.

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SEVILLE, Spain — A feud is widening between the United States and NATO ally Spain after the Spanish government reiterated that it would refuse to let U.S. forces use two joint military bases in southern Spain amid the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

“Our position has been very clear from day one,” Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told Cadena SER radio on Thursday.

Robles contradicted an earlier statement by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, saying the Spanish government had changed its position.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Leavitt said, “As far as Spain is concerned, I think they heard the president’s message loud and clear yesterday. And my understanding is that in the last few hours they agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.”

Robles responded to Leavitt’s comment by saying: “The facts are clear. The Spanish government will not authorize the use of the Rota and Morón bases for these military actions.” She added: “No country should act alone as guardian of the world. We have international rules. »

Robles had a scheduled meeting Wednesday with the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Benjamin León Jr.. When asked if anything said in that meeting could have shed light on Leavitt’s statement, Robles denied that theory and said, “I was still in a meeting with the ambassador when the White House spokesperson made that statement.”

The feud between the two governments was sparked by President Trump’s comments Tuesday saying he would end all trade with Spain if the Spanish government did not allow U.S. forces to use jointly operated bases. Over the weekend, the US military relocated more than a dozen refueling planes, based in Spain, after being blocked from launching their missions from the two bases.

Both military bases are located in the Andalusia region of southern Spain and have been used by the United States since 1953. The town of Morón de la Frontera is home to an air base, while the coastal town of Rota is home to the US Navy. These bases are considered a strategic stopover for American operations in the Middle East.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended his position on the Middle East war on Wednesday in response to President Trump’s threats to suspend trade with Spain.

“We say no to the violation of international law that protects us all, especially the most defenseless civilian population,” Sánchez said, in remarks that did not mention Trump by name.

“No to accepting that the world can only solve its problems through conflict and bombs. And finally, no to repeating the mistakes of the past. In short, the Spanish government’s position can be summed up in four words: No to war.”

Sánchez demanded that the United States, Israel and Iran seek a diplomatic exit from this conflict.

Sánchez’s center-left Socialist Party leads a coalition government made up of other smaller parties. Leaders of the country’s main opposition, the conservative People’s Party, have spoken out in support of the US and Israeli military campaign in Iran and harshly criticized Sánchez for his position.

The Spanish army took measures to protect the area. The Defense Ministry announced Thursday that it had sent its most advanced warship, the Cristóbal Colón, to the Mediterranean to join French and Greek forces.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, warned that a further escalation of the war could threaten Europe and beyond “with unpredictable consequences.”

She said: “We are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the region.”