"We Want Nothing to Do With Spain": Trump Cuts Trade Ties Amid Iran War
President Trump halts all trade with Spain after PM Sánchez blocks U.S. base access for Iran strikes. Massive economic ripple effects expected as NATO fractures deepen.
President Donald Trump announced today that the United States will sever all trade ties with Spain. The decision comes in response to Spain's refusal to allow U.S. forces to utilize its military bases for operations against Iran in the ongoing 2026 US-Israel-Iran conflict.The announcement was made during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where Trump lambasted Spain as "terrible" and instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately "cut off all dealings" with the country.
Trump also cited Spain's lagging NATO defense spending as a contributing factor, emphasizing, "We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain."
In contrast, he praised Germany's full support in the conflict, highlighting deepening rifts among Western allies.
Spain's leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defended the decision, stating that U.S. strikes on Iran are not authorized under bilateral agreements or the UN Charter. "We insist on maintaining full sovereignty over our facilities and call for immediate de-escalation," a Spanish government statement read.
The bases in question, Rota and Morón in southern Spain, have been key assets for U.S. operations in the region. As a direct result, the U.S. has relocated 15 aircraft, including vital refueling tankers, from these sites.
This move also shows broader fractures in the NATO alliance over the Iran war, with Trump also voicing frustration toward UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for insufficient alignment with U.S.-Israeli military efforts. Financial markets reacted swiftly, with Spain-related ETFs plummeting and analysts questioning the legal feasibility of such sweeping trade restrictions under U.S. statutes
The White House has not yet detailed the full scope of the trade cutoff, but experts warn it could disrupt billions in bilateral commerce, including energy, agriculture, and tourism sectors.This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.