Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has openly confronted US President Donald Trump after Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain, vowing that his government stands for “no to war” and for international law, according to BBC News. In a calm but firm 10 minute televised address from La Moncloa in Madrid, Sánchez linked the current crisis over Iran to past and present wars, from Ukraine and Gaza back to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The clash began when Trump reacted angrily to Spain’s refusal to allow the US to use the jointly run bases at Morón and Rota for strikes on Iran. He called Spain “terrible” and promised a full trade embargo, saying the US would have “nothing to do” with the country. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said he told Trump clearly that he could not make a trade deal with Germany or Europe while excluding Spain.
Sánchez chose not to answer Trump directly by name, but his message was unmistakable. He insisted that the real question was not whether Spain “stands with the ayatollahs,” but whether it stands with peace and international legality. You cannot, he warned, respond to one illegality with another, because that is how “the great catastrophes of humanity begin.”
He compared Spain’s stance on Iran to its position on Ukraine and Gaza. His government has strongly criticized Israel’s military actions after the Hamas attacks in 2023, described what is happening in Gaza as “genocide,” and recognized a Palestinian state ahead of many EU partners. These positions reflect both his left-wing coalition and the mood of many Spaniards, who tend to be skeptical of wars in the Middle East.
Looking back to the Iraq War, Sánchez reminded viewers how deeply unpopular Spain’s support for the invasion was, and how it sparked huge anti war demonstrations. He recalled the “Azores trio”, George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Spain’s then leader José María Aznar saying they had left Europeans with a “more insecure world and worse life.”
At the same time, Sánchez expressed solidarity with countries “illegally attacked by the Iranian regime,” making clear he opposes Iran’s actions but does not believe more war is the answer.
At home, his government is under heavy pressure: it depends on a fragile coalition of left-wing and regional parties and is weakened by corruption accusations against some allies. Yet standing up to Trump may help him politically. Most Spaniards have a negative view of the US president, and even some on the right may quietly approve of Sánchez’s stance. Still, many in Spain now worry about whether Trump’s threats will turn into real economic pain and watch the unfolding drama with anxiety.
