Most European leaders are trying to balance limited support for US actions regarding Iran with preventing a regional crisis. In this context, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stands out with a clearly expressed stance.
Unlike some partners, Sánchez was openly critical of the US strikes, which drew anger and threats from the White House. However, instead of retreating, he and his government hardened their course, emphasizing Spain’s principles and national interests.
Spain maintains significant trade and investment ties with the United States and serves as an important ally within NATO. Last year, more than 4 million Americans visited Spain, and recently Amazon announced plans to expand investments in data centers in the country to nearly $40 billion.
The southern part of Spain hosts the Rota and Moron military bases, the use of which has become the subject of sharp debates: the Spanish government banned using these bases to support strikes against Iran.
In response to Trump’s press conference, there were loud statements about the trade actions, but Sánchez answered quickly: within 24 hours of the president’s cynical statement, he addressed the nation on national television with a message: No to war.
He described the strikes by the United States and Israel as “reckless and illegal” and stressed that Spain “will not become an ally in something that is bad for the world – and that runs counter to our values and interests – just out of fear of reprisals from someone.”
“It is unacceptable that those leaders who cannot fulfill this duty use the smoke of war to hide their failures and at the same time enrich a few.”
– Pedro Sánchez
After the White House stated that the trade threat forced Spain to go along with military cooperation with the United States, that assertion was quickly refuted. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares assured that Madrid’s stance on the war in the Middle East and the use of bases has not changed.
“The European position on the war and the use of our bases has not changed.”
– José Manuel Albares
Trump also praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for cooperation and expressed support for leaders of other countries. He stressed that Italy is a “great leader” for the United States, highlighting this in one of the interviews.
In the United Kingdom, the situation did not unfold as clearly at first: initially the country’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, refused to provide bases for strikes, but later said he would allow the use of British bases for “defensive operations.”
Experts believe Sánchez’s stance could bolster support for the moderate center in his coalition. He has withstood a series of tests on the world stage, demonstrating leadership and strategic purpose that creates some pressure on the opposition.
Economically, Spain maintains close ties with the United States, but trade volumes remain lower than many other European countries. At the same time, the country depends on energy imports, notably LNG from the United States, which complicates engagement with Washington.
Overall, analysis of the events suggests that Sánchez is pursuing a cautious but steady policy toward the United States, trying to combine domestic interests with Spain’s reputation as a prudent partner in Europe and NATO.