Trump Moves to Cut Trade With Spain After Base Dispute Over Iran Strikes

President Trump threatened to sever all trade ties with Spain on Tuesday after Madrid blocked the US military from using jointly operated bases in southern Spain for operations linked to the Iran strikes. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump called Spain "terrible" and said he directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all dealings" with the country. The US had already relocated 15 aircraft, including refueling tankers, from the Rota and Moron air bases to Germany's Ramstein after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez refused access for any strikes not covered by the UN Charter. Sánchez has called the US-Israeli military campaign an "unjustifiable" and "dangerous" intervention, positioning himself as one of the sharpest critics of the operation among Western leaders. Trump escalated further by suggesting the US could use Spanish bases regardless, telling reporters "we could just fly in and use it — nobody's going to tell us not to use it." Total goods trade between the two nations reached roughly $47 billion in 2025. Trump also took a swipe at the UK, expressing displeasure with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to limit base use to defensive purposes only, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with."