The Spanish government has responded to the US president's recent statements, reminding him that trade policy is determined by the European Union as a whole, meaning the US cannot renegotiate trade relations solely with Spain, El Pais reports. The office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized that the country remains a reliable ally, a key NATO member, and a vital trade partner for 195 nations, including the United States. Officials added that any revision of trade ties by Washington must respect international law, corporate autonomy, and existing EU-US agreements.
Spain's Second Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz stated that Madrid will not accept "blackmail or lectures from an aggressor state." Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun stressed that US threats carry limited weight and that Spain will independently make defense and security decisions, specifically regarding its refusal to join the "illegal" strike on Iran. Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Children Sira Rego expressed pride in Spain's anti-war stance and its refusal to let its military bases be used for such operations.
Trump previously announced that the US would sever trade ties with Spain after Madrid denied Washington the use of its bases for an operation targeting Iran.
Earlier, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed that Spain would not back the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran.
Albares noted that Spain will not join France, Germany, and the UK, which have signaled their readiness to launch "proportionate offensive actions" in response to Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Cyprus.