The Spanish government responded to U.S. President Donald Trump and his ‘threat to halt all trade’ by urging compliance with international law. The pressure was applied on grounds such as Spain not falling in line with U.S. ‘airstrikes on Iran’. Following the Russia-Ukraine war and ambitions over Greenland territory, the confrontation over Iran shows the United States once again colliding with a European ally.

Reuters reported that on the 3rd (local time) the Spanish government issued a statement saying the United States should pay attention to the autonomy of private companies, international law, and trade agreements between the U.S. and the European Union (EU).

Spain stressed that it has the resources to limit the shock from U.S. trade embargo measures and to support affected sectors, while pledging to work with partners for free trade and economic cooperation. Spain also said it is fulfilling its commitments to NATO and European defense.

This was in response to President Trump saying earlier that day at the White House in Washington, DC, during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “We will suspend all trade with Spain.”

At the event, Trump said, “I told Scott (Treasury Secretary Scott Besant) to cut off all dealings with Spain,” and said he has the authority to impose an embargo on all Spanish goods. Secretary Besant said he would instruct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce to review sanctions against Spain.

Trump said, “Spain is terrible,” citing reasons such as Spain denying the use of Spanish military bases for the U.S. attack on Iran and Spain not joining the NATO pledge to raise defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Earlier, the government of Pedro Sanchez blocked the United States and Israel, which had moved to strike Iran, from using the Rota naval base in Cadiz and the Moron air base in Seville. These bases have played a symbolic role in the Atlantic alliance relationship in Spain. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on the 2nd that the agreement concluded with the United States for base use permits only operations within the framework of international law.

The center-left Sanchez government has long been at odds with the Trump administration. It refused port calls in Spain by ships transporting weapons to Israel, and even when NATO went along with pressure from President Trump demanding European self-reliant defense and an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP, it maintained opposition to the end. After the United States ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, it called for ‘actions in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter’.

The European-focused outlet Euractiv reported interpretations that Prime Minister Sanchez is seeking to rally the domestic left by confronting President Trump. Supporters of the Socialist Party, to which Prime Minister Sanchez belongs, have traditionally opposed U.S. military basing and demands for higher defense spending. The conservative opposition criticizes this as ‘isolationism’.

Politico Europe noted that Prime Minister Sanchez and his party “are in trouble at home in Spain due to a corruption scandal and a crushing defeat in local elections, narrowing their political room for maneuver. By contrast, in foreign affairs they can act much more freely and build an image as a bulwark against Trumpism. This is effective in winning support from the Spanish public.”