Khaberni - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, today Wednesday, responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Madrid for refusing to allow American planes to use its bases to strike Iran, summarizing his government's position with the phrase "no to war".
Sanchez said in a televised speech in response to Trump's threat to cut all trade relations with Spain, "We will not collude in an act that harms the world, and is contrary to our values and interests, for fear of revenge only."
He added "we reject this disaster," indicating that "many other governments" share Madrid's position alongside "millions of citizens across Europe, North America, and the Middle East who do not want more wars, and do not want a future based on uncertainty."
Sanchez highlighted the indirect negative impacts of the Iraq war, from the rise of "extremist terrorism" to increased energy prices, and said that the consequences of attacking Iran carry the same degree of uncertainty, and will not lead to a more just international system.
Trump described Spain as a "terrible ally" during his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, yesterday, Tuesday.
He mentioned Sanchez's refusal to join the NATO members’ pledge to increase defense spending to make up 5% of the GDP as per Trump’s request, who noted that the United States bears too much of the alliance’s burden.
Criticizing the German Stance
In the same context, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that Madrid expressed to Germany that it was "surprised" by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's comments at the White House that seemed to support President Trump's threats to cut trade relations with Spain.
Albares said in an interview with Spanish television, "I cannot imagine any of the advisors (former) like Angela Merkel or Olaf Scholz making such comments."
Merz said on Tuesday that Spain "needs convincing to agree to the NATO goal of raising defense spending to 3.5% of GDP."
Meanwhile, the European Commission expressed its readiness to defend the interests of the European Union after President Trump threatened to cut trade relations with Spain for refusing to allow the United States to use its bases to attack Iran.
The spokesman for the Commission, Olof Gill, issued a statement in response to Trump's threats saying, "We fully stand in solidarity with all member states and all citizens, and we are prepared through our joint trade policy to protect the interests of the European Union."
