‘Cut Off All Dealings With Spain’: Trump Calls Madrid Terrible For Not Backing US War On Iran

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 01:30 IST

Trump voiced particular anger at Spain, whose left-wing government under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has not permitted US forces to launch attacks on Iran from Spanish bases.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off “all trade" with Spain and criticised the UK for not fully backing the US-Israeli military assault on Iran, escalating tensions with key European allies.

“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain," Trump said at the White House, accusing Madrid of being “terrible" and unfriendly over access to military bases. He said he had asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings with Spain."

Trump also lashed out at Britain, saying he was “not happy with the UK" after Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to join the assault launched with Israel on Saturday. “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with," Trump said.

Britain allowed US fighter jets to use two air bases — one in Gloucestershire and the joint UK-US Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean — for what Starmer described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose." However, London did not authorise the use of UK bases in Cyprus for offensive operations. One of those bases was later struck by an Iranian-made drone.

Trump further criticised Britain’s plan to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back Diego Garcia, calling it a “stupid island" issue.

Spain’s left-wing government under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has not permitted US forces to launch attacks on Iran from Spanish bases. Trump also pointed to Sanchez’s refusal to commit to NATO’s proposed defence spending target of five percent of GDP, a level he has strongly advocated.

Responding to Trump’s trade threat, the Spanish government said it has the resources to contain the possible impact of any US embargo. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares earlier said Madrid would only allow the use of Naval Base Rota and Moron Air Base for activities consistent with the United Nations Charter.

News world ‘Cut Off All Dealings With Spain’: Trump Calls Madrid Terrible For Not Backing US War On Iran

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