Spain’s left-leaning government has officially prohibited US military aircraft engaged in operations against Iran from using Spanish airspace, alongside denying access to its military bases, Defence Minister Margarita Robles announced on Monday. She emphasized that neither the use of Spanish bases nor the country’s airspace is authorized for missions connected to the conflict involving Iran.
This decision has reportedly disrupted US military logistics and forced bombers to alter their flight paths en route to the Middle East, reports. Exceptions are made only for emergency landings or transit, underscoring Spain’s firm stance on the matter.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has positioned himself as a prominent Western leader opposing the war, which escalated following US-Israeli strikes on February 28 and has since spread across the Middle East. His opposition has strained relations with the United States, a key NATO ally.
US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Spain’s position, even threatening to sever trade relations amid ongoing policy disagreements. Spain had previously angered Trump by refusing to increase its NATO defense spending to five percent of GDP, a demand made by the US president to alliance members.
