Heightening tensions between Washington and Madrid over Spain’s defense spending has reignited speculation that the United States could relocate its major military bases from southern Spain to Morocco, Reuters reported.
US President Donald Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Spain after Madrid refused to adopt his proposed 5% defense spending target for NATO members.
The Spanish government and the European Commission pushed back, insisting that Brussels is the EU’s sole negotiator for trade policy and that any unilateral US sanctions would violate existing transatlantic agreements.
Trump’s comments revived a proposal first floated by former US National Security Council official Robert Greenway, suggesting that Washington could shift its naval and air assets from Spain to Morocco if relations with Madrid deteriorate further. If implemented, the US naval base in Rota and the air base in Morón de la Frontera would be impacted. Both bases are cornerstones of America’s military presence in the Mediterranean.
Relocating these operations to Morocco, a long-standing US security partner, would deepen defense ties with Rabat, which already hosts frequent joint exercises and has been modernizing its military infrastructure.
Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles downplayed the dispute, saying the NATO allies were focused on the war in Ukraine, not long-term budget targets. Madrid has already doubled its defense spending since 2017 to reach 2% of GDP, equivalent to about EUR 32.7 billion (USD 38 billion) this year.
