Spanish Prime Minister Urges End to War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on March 4 called for an end to escalating hostilities in the Middle East and said Madrid was working to assist Spaniards in the region while preparing economic safeguards at home.

“The position of the Government of Spain in the face of this situation is clear and consistent,” Sánchez said in a post on X. “It is the same position we have maintained in Ukraine and Gaza. … NO TO WAR.”

In a televised address on the same day, Sánchez said the conflict risked destabilizing Europe and the broader international system. He called on the United States, Israel, and Iran to halt the fighting and said the “spiral of violence is avoidable.”

Tensions between the United States and Iran have continued to escalate across the region. Spanish bases are not being used for the U.S. military operation against Iran launched on Feb. 28.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 3 that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to sever trade relations with Spain after the country’s leaders blocked the use of their military bases for U.S. forces.

Spain hosts two key joint U.S.–Spanish military bases, which operate under the bilateral U.S.–Spain defense cooperation agreement and support NATO operations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Naval Station Rota serves as a major naval hub for the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet. Morón Air Base in the Andalusia region of Spain is located close to the Mediterranean and the Middle East and operates a long runway and aircraft refueling systems, according to the U.S. Navy.

Both installations remain under Spanish sovereignty but allow a permanent U.S. military presence and are considered among Washington’s most important defense facilities in southern Europe.

Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares told Telecinco on March 2 that Spanish military bases would not be used for operations that do not comply with international law.

Spain’s stance has drawn criticism from Trump, who has threatened economic retaliation against Madrid.

Speaking during a White House meeting on March 3, Trump said the United States could cut trade ties with Spain following its decision to block the use of Spanish military bases.

“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain,” Trump said on March 3. “We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”

EU Warns It Will Protect Bloc’s Interests

European Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill said on March 4 that the European Union would defend its economic interests and stand behind member states if Washington were to take retaliatory trade measures.

“The Commission will ensure that the interests of the European Union are fully protected,” Gill said. “We stand in full solidarity with all Member States and all its citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready to act if necessary to safeguard EU interests.”

Gill emphasized the depth of economic ties between the United States and the EU, noting that preserving the relationship was particularly important amid global instability.

“The EU and the United States concluded a major trade deal last year,” he said. “The European Commission expects the United States to fully honour the commitments undertaken in the joint statement of last August. The EU is continuing to honour its part of that deal, allow many US goods into the bloc tariff free, even though the US Supreme Court ruled Trump’s 15 percent tariffs on EU goods were illegal.”

Sánchez said Spain was taking steps to protect its citizens and economy as the conflict unfolded. He said the government was helping Spaniards in the Middle East return home and that relevant services were organizing evacuations.

Madrid is preparing contingency measures to cushion potential economic shocks from the conflict, he said, noting that Spain would coordinate closely with European partners to respond diplomatically and economically to the crisis.