On Tuesday (3 March), US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after the Spanish government refused to allow American forces to use jointly operated military bases on Spanish soil as part of Washington’s ongoing strikes against Iran. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Mr. Trump declared Spain had been “terrible”, suggesting he could unilaterally sever trade ties as early as “today.” The remarks came as Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the US and Israeli attack on Iran as an illegal military intervention in breach of international law.
The EU’s initial response
During the initial exchange in the White House, Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared reluctant to challenge Trump publicly. His silence drew criticism in Spain, where officials said they expected stronger solidarity from Germany. Mr. Merz later clarified his position to journalists, emphasising that Spain is part of the European Union and cannot be singled out in trade negotiations. He also said he preferred not to escalate tensions during the meeting itself, but made clear that any trade arrangements with the EU necessarily include Spain.
Moreover, President Trump’s suggestion that he could pick and choose which European nations to trade with has met a wall of legal and political resistance in Brussels. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera was quick to dismiss the feasibility of a targeted embargo, reminding Washington that the EU operates as a single trading bloc. Under EU law, trade negotiations for all 27 member states are handled exclusively by the Commission, meaning any sanction against Spain is legally interpreted as an attack on the Union as a whole. In addition, other European leaders rallied behind Madrid. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “solidarity” with Spain during a telephone call with Prime Minister Sánchez.
Confusion and denial
The episode took another turn on Wednesday (4 March) when White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt claimed that Spain had “agreed to cooperate with the US military” and had heard Trump’s message “loud and clear”. However, Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reacted swiftly and bluntly: “I categorically deny this,” he said in a radio interview, adding that Spain’s position on the conflict had not changed in the slightest.
President Trump doubles down
Far from calming the dispute, President Trump intensified his rhetoric during an interview with the New York Post on Thursday (5 March). Mr. Trump labelled Spain a “loser” and “not a team player”, pointing to the country’s refusal to commit 5 per cent of its GDP to NATO defence spending.
Another test for transatlantic unity
For now, the standoff illustrates the growing fault lines between the Trump administration and European allies over the conflict in the Middle East and over the limits of American power to punish individual EU member states. Spain has shown no intention of yielding; Prime Minister Sánchez has the backing of Brussels, Paris and several other European capitals. The EU’s collective trade policy acts as a significant legal and political shield, and experts note that the US would likely stand to lose more than Spain if commercial ties were completely severed. Nonetheless, the episode serves as a fresh reminder that President Trump is willing to use the threat of economic pain as a foreign policy tool. and that the EU must decide, time and again, just how united it intends to be when that pressure is applied.
