Tension between the United States and Spain escalated to a dangerous point after Spain closed its airspace to aircraft involved in the war against Iran, to which Washington responded, “We do not need help from Spain or anyone else.” The statement from the White House, later echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, evidences the level of friction between the two governments amid the military operation driven by the United States and Israel. This is the second direct confrontation between the United States and Spain in a few weeks following the conflict with Iran. In early March, President Donald Trump had already reacted harshly to Spain's refusal to allow the use of military bases in Rota and Morón, even launching commercial threats against the government of Pedro Sánchez. Now the conflict intensifies with Spain's decision to close its airspace to any aircraft linked to the offensive, including flights that only intend to overfly the country. “Illegal and Unjust War” The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, was in charge of explaining the details of the decision, stating that the use of bases or airspace for operations related to the war against Iran will not be permitted. Robles described the conflict as “deeply illegal and unjust,” marking a clear break with Washington's military strategy. Criticism of NATO The discontent in the United States was not limited to the White House; Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched even harsher criticism, questioning Spain's role within NATO. “We have countries like Spain, to which we are committed to protecting, and they deny us the use of their bases when we need them,” he claimed. Rubio even questioned the military alliance by asking, “What does the United States gain if it cannot use those bases?”. The official warned that this situation could lead to a review of the U.S. commitment to Europe once the offensive against Iran is over. He threatened that without his country's commitment, NATO could falter: “If we were to withdraw our troops tomorrow, it would be the end of NATO,” he stated. Despite the pressure, the Spanish government maintains its firm stance and even clarifies that it is not contemplating the withdrawal of U.S. troops from its bases, but it demands respect for its decision not to participate in the conflict.
