WASHINGTON – The White House announced Wednesday that Spain has reversed course and agreed to provide military cooperation with the United States, following President Trump’s threat to impose trade sanctions on the European nation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the development during a briefing, stating the Spanish government responded quickly to Trump’s warning. “I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear. It is my understanding over the past several hours they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,” Leavitt told reporters.
The diplomatic tension emerged after Spain blocked American military aircraft from accessing shared naval and air facilities in the country’s southern region. These bases were intended to support joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran. Trump had proposed implementing a complete trade embargo against Madrid in response to their refusal.
Spanish officials have strongly criticized the American and Israeli bombing campaigns against Iran, characterizing the military actions as both dangerous and unlawful.
Despite the reported agreement, Spanish leadership maintained a defiant tone Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero declared that Spain “will not be vassals” to another country. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also delivered a televised statement reaffirming his nation’s opposition to military conflict, cautioning that the current situation could escalate into a worldwide catastrophe.
