Overview
- During an Oval Office meeting with Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Trump vowed to “cut all trade” with Spain, said he asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to sever relations, and called Spain “terrible.”
- The threat followed Spain’s position that U.S. forces cannot use southern Spanish bases for attacks lacking U.N. Charter authorization, with Madrid noting the facilities were not used in the weekend strike on Iran.
- Senior ministers including Yolanda Díaz and Sira Rego rejected the pressure as unacceptable, asserting Spain’s sovereignty and commitment to international law.
- The European Commission said it will fully protect European interests, while analysts highlight EU-level trade constraints and note Trump’s claim that a recent Supreme Court ruling allows broad embargoes.
- Spain’s main business lobby warned of exposure for exporters and energy supplies, pointing to sensitive sectors and the U.S. role as Spain’s leading oil and gas supplier since the Ukraine war.