MADRID — In a dramatic diplomatic move, Spain has closed its entire airspace to U.S. military aircraft connected to the war in Iran, widening its earlier ban on using Spanish military bases for the conflict. Officials say the decision is meant to prevent any action that could further inflame tensions in the Middle East, according to Euro News.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced the expanded restriction during an interview with Catalan radio station Rac 1 on Monday. “Spain should not do anything that could escalate the war,” he said, adding that most Spaniards strongly oppose the conflict and that the decision is rooted in the principles of the United Nations.
The new measure now applies nationwide, extending beyond prior limits placed on two strategic joint U.S.–Spanish military sites: the naval base at Rota in Cádiz and the air base at Morón de la Frontera in Seville. Spanish officials clarified that only genuine emergencies would be exempted from the flight ban.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles reaffirmed the government’s position, saying the message had been “crystal clear” to Washington from day one. “Neither our airspace nor our bases will be used for any action linked to the war in Iran,” she told reporters, describing the conflict as “both illegal and unjust.”
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo echoed those remarks, calling the U.S.-led campaign “a unilateral war that breaks international law.” He confirmed Spain would not participate in or support it under any circumstances.
The decision has strained relations between Madrid and Washington. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Spain of refusing to “pay its share” of defense spending and warned of possible trade reprisals after Madrid blocked base access.
Spain’s move stands as one of the strongest rebukes by a NATO member against U.S. actions in the region. Lying along critical flight corridors to the Middle East, the country’s airspace ban could force the U.S. military to reroute supply and support flights, a symbolic and practical show of Spain’s determination to stay clear of a war it calls unlawful.
