Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has strongly responded to US President Donald Trump after Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain. The warning came after Madrid refused to allow the United States to use jointly operated military bases in southern Spain for its ongoing attacks on Iran.
In a 10-minute televised address on Wednesday, 4th March, Sánchez made it clear that Spain would not support actions it believes are wrong. He described the growing conflict in the Middle East as “playing Russian roulette with the destiny of millions.” According to him, ‘illegal wars by irresponsible leaders’ bring only pain and long-term damage.
The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain.
Our response then must be our response now:
NO to violations of…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 4, 2026
Sánchez, who has earlier criticised Israel’s military operations in Gaza, summed up Spain’s current position in three simple words: “No to war.”
“We will not act out of fear”
In what appeared to be a direct reply to Trump’s remarks, Sánchez said Spain would not become “complicit in something bad for the world” simply because it feared retaliation. He stressed that his country’s foreign policy would be guided by its values and national interest, not by pressure from powerful allies.
España está con la Constitución, con la UE, con la ONU y con el derecho internacional.
Estamos con la paz, la convivencia y la prosperidad que benefician a todos.
El futuro no está escrito. La espiral de violencia es evitable. pic.twitter.com/cZEwlJpplI
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 4, 2026
The tension escalated on Tuesday, 3rd March, when Trump publicly criticised Spain during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump called Spain “terrible” and said he had instructed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings” with the European nation.
BREAKING – President Trump has just announced that the United States has completely cut off all trade with Spain after leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez refused to support the United States and allow American forces to use their military bases. pic.twitter.com/92oJnonYQi
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) March 3, 2026
Trump was angry that Spain had refused permission for the US to use military bases located on Spanish soil for further operations against Iran. He also criticised Spain for not agreeing to NATO’s proposal that member countries increase defence spending to 5% of their GDP.
“Everybody was enthusiastic about it, Germany, everybody, and Spain didn’t do it,” Trump said. He added that the US could use the bases if it really wanted to, suggesting that no one could stop them, but said Spain had been “unfriendly.”
Sánchez warns of a long and dangerous war
In his speech on Wednesday, 4th March, Sánchez urged the United States, Israel, and Iran to step back before the conflict spirals out of control. He said one illegal action cannot justify another, warning that this is how major global disasters begin.
“You can’t play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions,” he said. Sánchez admitted that nobody knows how the current conflict will unfold. Even the goals of those who launched the first strike, he said, are unclear. However, he warned that the world must be prepared for the possibility of a long war with heavy casualties and serious global economic consequences.
To underline his point, Sánchez referred to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was supported by Spain’s former conservative prime minister José María Aznar. That war, he said, was presented as a way to eliminate Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction and bring democracy. Instead, according to Sánchez, it created one of the worst periods of instability Europe had seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Europe stands with Spain
Chancellor Merz later clarified that Spain cannot be singled out in trade matters. He reminded Trump privately that Spain is part of the European Union and that trade agreements with the US are negotiated collectively. “There is no way to treat Spain particularly badly,” Merz said.
The European Commission also backed Spain. In a statement, the Commission said it stands in full solidarity with all EU member states and will protect the interests of the European Union if needed.
A clear message from Madrid
Sánchez ended his remarks by saying that a government’s main responsibility is to protect its citizens and improve their lives, not to use war for political distraction or profit. He criticised leaders who, in his words, hide their failures behind the smoke of conflict and allow a few powerful interests to benefit while ordinary people suffer.
For Spain, the message is simple: it does not want to be dragged into another war. As tensions continue to rise, Sánchez has made it clear that Madrid’s stance remains firm, no to war, and no to decisions made out of fear.
