Spain has denied the White House’s claim that Madrid is now cooperating militarily with Washington amid the war with Iran, despite President Donald Trump’s threat to use trade to punish the Spanish authorities for their stance.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt suggested on Wednesday that the Spanish position of refusing to allow the country’s military bases in the war against Iran has changed.
“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear, and it’s my understanding, over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,” Leavitt told reporters.
The Spanish government was quick to dismiss the assertion, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares saying that he denies the White House’s claim “categorically”.
“Not a single comma has changed, and I have no idea whatsoever what they might be referring to,” Albares told Hora25 radio programme.
On Tuesday, Trump had lambasted Spain over its opposition to the war as “terrible”.
“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” the US president said.
But Madrid projected defiance in the face of Washington’s economic threat, reiterating its opposition to the war.
“The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X on Wednesday.
He added that Spain’s position continues to be to oppose war, violations of international law and “the illusion that we can solve the world’s problems with bombs”.
