Why Spain Is Standing Up to Donald Trump

"“We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel,” the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, posted on X, warning against an “escalation” that could lead to a more “hostile international order.” The next day, Sánchez reiterated his opposition to Iran's “hateful regime,” but still branded the campaign as “an unjustified and dangerous military intervention.”"

"Even as other European officials shied away from criticizing Trump and offered limited assistance to the U.S. war effort, Spain denied the U.S. access to its military bases for operations linked to Iran. Trump, in return, threatened to “cut off all trade” with Spain, though it was far from clear how his Administration could go about selectively targeting a member of the European Union."

"Sánchez seemed to revel in the clash. “We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” he insisted in a televised address. In early April, after the Administration agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Iran, the Prime Minister did not back down."

"“The government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket,” he posted."

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez opposed the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran immediately after it began, rejecting unilateral military action and warning that escalation could create a more hostile international order. He reiterated opposition while condemning Iran’s “hateful regime,” describing the campaign as unjustified and dangerous. Spain denied the United States access to military bases for operations linked to Iran, even as other European officials avoided direct criticism and offered limited assistance. The U.S. threatened to cut off all trade with Spain, though selective targeting within the European Union was unclear. Sánchez framed Spain’s stance as consistent with values and interests rather than fear of reprisals, and he continued after a temporary ceasefire by refusing to “applaud” those who set the world on fire.

Read at The New Yorker