Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has pushed back strongly against criticism from former United States President Donald Trump after Madrid refused to allow American military aircraft to use Spanish bases for operations linked to potential strikes on Iran. The disagreement has added to growing diplomatic tension between the two countries as global concerns about wider conflict continue to rise.
Speaking during a televised national address, Sánchez made Spain’s position very clear. He described his government’s stance in simple terms, saying it could be summarized in four words: no to war. He explained that Spain would not allow fear of economic retaliation to push it into supporting actions it considered harmful to global stability. According to him, protecting national values and global peace was more important than avoiding political pressure.
The Spanish leader went further to state that opposition to war was not limited to his government alone. He said many countries and millions of people across Europe, North America, and the Middle East share similar concerns about the possibility of further military escalation. Sánchez argued that more conflict would only increase uncertainty and create long-term instability for future generations.
Tensions between Madrid and Washington intensified after Trump publicly criticised Spain’s foreign policy stance. During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, Trump described Spain as a poor ally. He also repeated his long-standing argument that NATO members should spend more on defense, specifically pushing member nations to raise military spending to five percent of their gross domestic product.
The Spanish government has resisted that demand, saying defense spending should be balanced with social and economic priorities. Sánchez’s administration has also drawn criticism from Washington for other foreign policy positions. These include strong opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza as well as condemnation of attempts to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The diplomatic dispute reflects deeper differences in how both countries approach global security and international alliances. While Washington continues to push for stronger military cooperation among its allies, Spain has maintained that diplomatic dialogue and restraint remain the best path toward resolving international conflicts.
