The reign of Spain says no to US planes. The government of Pedro Sánchez refused to allow the U.S. to use the joint bases at Rota and Morón in southern Spain for operations connected to strikes on Iran.
Rota and Morón are crucial “gateways” between the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. When Spain denied their use, it didn’t just send a political message, it directly affected the logistics of any U.S. military operation in the region.
- The bases host U.S. forces but remain under Spanish sovereignty, so Madrid can legally deny their use.
- In response, Donald Trump criticized Spain as a “terrible partner” and said he had ordered officials to look at cutting trade ties with Spain.
Sánchez televised response on March 4, 2026, Sánchez delivered a national address defending the decision. His central message was:
“The position of the Spanish government can be summarized in four words: No to war.” Key points he made:
- Spain will not participate in or support military operations it considers illegal or escalatory.
- Countries must not repeat mistakes like the Iraq War, which he said destabilized the region.
- Spain would not act out of “fear of reprisals” from the United States.
- Military escalation risks global instability—he warned leaders should not play “Russian roulette with the fate of millions.”
Sánchez explicitly referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when Spain’s conservative government joined the U.S.-UK coalition.
That alliance, often associated with leaders like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and José María Aznar, is sometimes called the “Azores trio” because they met in the Azores shortly before the invasion.
He used that history as a warning about repeating a war justified by claims that later proved wrong.
- European Union officials said a threat against one EU member affects the entire bloc.
- Some European leaders expressed support for Spain’s stance, while others remained closer to Washington.
- Spain did block the use of U.S. bases for the Iran operation.
- Trump did threaten trade retaliation.
- Sánchez publicly rejected the pressure and framed the issue as a principled stand against another Middle East war.
Spain’s two bases (Rota and Morón) are strategically important to the U.S.; in fact, they may be the most critical American military hubs in Europe.