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US Considers Withdrawing Joint Military Base(s) in Spain As “Punishment” for Its Non-Cooperation in Iran War: WSJ

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The threat comes as Spain appears to be leading a shift in Europe away from Donald Trump’s US. 

The Trump administration is studying a plan to punish NATO members who have not been forthcoming enough with assistance in the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran. At the top of the list is Spain whose prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is the only EU leader to have taken Trump properly to task over his disastrous war. In a recent address, Sánchez said Spain would “not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they turn up with a bucket of water.”

During the month-long conflict Sánchez’s government not only refused to allow US forces to use the joint military bases of Rota and Morón for operations in the West Asian conflict but also closed Spanish airspace to US military aircraft involved in the hostilities.

Now, the Trump White House is threatening to withdraw US troops from countries that have not contributed to the US-Israeli war effort, such as Spain and Germany, and relocate them to NATO members that have been more cooperative. The plan has reportedly gained traction among US government officials as Trump’s requests for help from NATO have fallen on deaf ears, according to The Wall Street Journal:

The proposal would fall far short of President Trump’s recent threats to fully withdraw the U.S. from the alliance, which by law he can’t do without Congress…

[The plan] underscores the growing rift between the Trump administration and European allies following the president’s decision to launch the war with Iran.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte traveled Wednesday to Washington to meet with Trump. Rutte has sought to deepen ties with Trump despite tensions in the trans-Atlantic alliance and was among those who persuaded him not to take over Greenland.

“It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the last six weeks when it’s the American people who have been funding their defense,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. She said Trump planned to have a very “frank and candid conversation” with Rutte.

Rutte has sought to strengthen US-NATO ties despite rising tensions within the organisation, including over US plans to annexe Greenland. Even as those divisions have risen, the much-ballyhooed NATO divorce or separation is not going to be easy to accomplish, as Yves recently noted. Meanwhile, here is Rutte performing his ritual genuflection to “Daddy” Trump:

Despite all the recent complaints coming from Trump admin figures, the reality is that most NATO allies have quietly helped to enable the US’ war effort even as they have tried to keep their political distance from the war, as notes a recent WSJ op-ed by two Lithuanian-based analysts.

Germany has kept Ramstein Air Base — a crucial US hub for logistics and force projection — available under standing agreement, even as Berlin insists this isn’t NATO’s war. Even France has allowed US aircraft to use French bases for missions supporting Gulf partners, while prohibiting those planes from taking part in strikes on Iran.

The most extreme example of this trend is Keir Starmer’s Schrödinger’s war, which continues to intensify in both of its contradictory forms. As Starmer and his government ministers cling to the narrative that they refused to be dragged into the war, more and more evidence stacks up of UK complicity in US-Israeli war crimes, including Israel’s recent carpet bombing of Lebanon:

Now it appears that the Starmer government is exploring, together with a coalition of 30 other countries plus one of the main belligerents, the United States, military options for opening up the Strait…

Indeed, the only real exception to this trend is Spain, notes the WSJ op-ed:

The leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez seemed eager to pick a fight with Mr. Trump. Last year Madrid alone refused to commit to NATO’s 5% defense-spending target. Now it has denied the use of Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base for Iran-related operations and closed its airspace to U.S. military flights linked to the war. Yet when Spain blocked some routes and facilities, flights were simply rerouted elsewhere in Europe, including through Germany.

Spain’s Sánchez government shows no sign of changing course. If anything, it is intensifying its criticism of Israel and Trump. Spain’s Foreign Minister Manuel Albares called the war “the greatest assault on the civilization built upon the humanist ideals of reason, peace, understanding, and universal law.”

On Wednesday night, Sánchez reiterated his call for the EU to suspend its ​association agreement with Israel, urging an end to “impunity for (Israel’s) criminal actions”.

In a post on X, Sanchez described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “contempt for life and international law” as “intolerable”. He has also welcomed the Pakistani-brokered ceasefire alongside the caveat that Spain would “not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they turn up with a bucket,” in reference to the Trump administration.

The Spanish government was also quick to reopen its embassy in Tehran, becoming the first Western nation to do so, even as its diplomatic relations with Israel remain on hold.

“I’ve instructed our ambassador in Tehran to return, to take up his post again and reopen our embassy, and for us to join in this effort for peace from every possible quarter, including from the Iranian capital itself,” Albares told reporters on Wednesday.

In addition, Spain summoned Israeli envoys over incidents involving UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, including the reported detention of a Spanish UNIFIL member. In a recent interview with the WSJ, Sánchez warned that Netanyahu is trying to create a new geopolitical reality in the Middle East, from which Europe suffers the resulting political instability and economic impact.

As we have noted in previous posts, Sánchez’s anti-war stance, like his anti-genocide stance, is at least partly, if not largely, based on political expedience. The broad coalition Sánchez has led for almost eight years includes left-wing parties like Podemos, Bildu and Esquerra Republicana that are strongly pro-Palestine and anti-war. 

Pro-Palestine sentiment is also a strong force in Spanish society, with 82% qualifying Israel’s acts in Gaza as genocide, according to a survey late last year. Plus, Sánchez is facing myriad scandals at home and appears to have decided, quite wisely, that supporting the Gaza cause and opposing the war against Iran makes shrewd political sense.

There are concerns, however, about the genuineness of his government’s embargo on Israeli weapons. A new report of the Delàs Centre for Peace Studies warns that six months after the government’s emergency decree banning the weapons trade with Israel, Spain continues to engage in business with Israel’s military industry, in particular on the military tech side.

Meanwhile, Sánchez continues to reap the electoral benefits of his stance on the Iran war. As Reuters reports, polls show an overwhelming majority of Spanish voters rejects the war. Since the war began Sanchez’s Socialist Party has gained voter support while far-right Vox, which backed the US and Israel, has seen a decline. To borrow from Yves, “quelle surprise!”

Even more interesting is speculation that Spain may be leading a shift in Europe away from Donald Trump’s US and Netanyahu’s Israel. On Tuesday, Sánchez reiterated his call for the EU to end its association agreement with Israel. Two days later, the tiny country of Slovenia echoed the demand. It’s hard to see Germany’s fanatically pro-Israel government agreeing to any such move, however.   

Meanwhile, from Politico:

In a poll of people in six EU countries in March, a majority of Spanish respondents — 51 percent — said Washington poses a “threat” to Europe, the largest proportion of all the countries polled. The results also revealed strong Spanish opposition to President Trump’s foreign policies and the U.S. and Israel’s war in Iran.

Spain’s respondents stood out for their wholesale support for Europe to increase its autonomy. Ninety-four percent said the continent needs to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on other major powers — even if that shift comes with major economic costs.

People in Spain also indicated a broad willingness to rush to the defense of an EU country under attack from a foreign power, and large backing for a European army.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stood out as the U.S. president’s chief critic in Europe and an outspoken opponent of the war in Iran. After Madrid banned the U.S. from using jointly operated military bases or the country’s airspace to carry out attacks in the Middle East, Trump issued an ultimately empty threat to cut commercial ties with Spain.

That threat has so far led to nothing, perhaps due to the legal uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariffs. There’s also the fact that much of US trade with Spain falls under bilateral trade agreements between the US and the EU. Or perhaps the Trump administration has decided it has already inflicted enough damage to the global economy through its idiotic war against Iran.

One way or another, Washington will presumably take some form of vengeful action against Spain. However, it is arguable whether withdrawing US troops from one or both of the two main bases on Spanish territory will constitute  punishment. It is also hugely debatable whether such a move will even be made given the strategic value these bases have to the US armed forces.

If it were to happen, it would have an immediate economic impact on the local communities, but it could be a blessing in the long run. After all, one of the three conditions of the 1986 referendum on Spain’s continued membership of NATO was the progressive reduction of US military bases in Spain installed after the Madrid Pacts of 1953. Since then, the number of joint US bases has fallen from four to two.

The US — and Israel — could also retaliate by stoking tensions on Spain’s southernmost border, by supporting the independence efforts of the two Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which sit on the northern shores of Morocco’s Mediterranean coast. Morocco is closely allied with the US and Israel, both of which supported Morocco’s territorial claims over Western Sahara — in return for Rabat’s official recognition of Israel, in late 2020, as part of the Abraham Accords.

Michael Rubin, an influential neo-con analyst and former Pentagon advisor, recently urged Morocco to launch a civil march on Ceuta and Melilla similar to the one that took place in 1975, which triggered the ultimate withdrawal of Spanish forces from Western Sahara. Those forces were quickly supplanted by Moroccan occupying forces.

In an interview with El Español, the Republican congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, a gusano hawk closely tied to Marco Rubio, made some veiled threats in that direction.

“We have seen that [Sánchez] is a president who acts aggressively and I would not be surprised if the US administration is looking for alternative options that are different from those we have had with Spain for many decades.

…

[I]t seems that Mr. Sánchez values the relationship with the dictators of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela more than with the United States…

QUESTION: Does the United States consider Morocco as an alternative where to take the military bases if Spain continues with its ‘no to war’ position?
ANSWER.– It is interesting, because Ceuta and Melilla are in Moroccan territory. The attitude of the King of Morocco has been positive.
It is always interesting to see what the geopolitical and geographical reality of Morocco is, these are important issues for this country.
The relationship between the US and the Alawite country has remained consistent, it is very important, there is an alliance that has remained even in difficult times.
And those are questions that exist: the attitude of Ceuta and Melilla and whether they are part of Spain or should be part of Morocco are issues that are always open and are resolved through alliances and friendship.
But it is very sad that this individual [Sánchez] is jeopardizing that alliance between the United States and Spain, something that the Kingdom of Morocco has not done.

In European capitals, meanwhile, Sánchez’s approach to the war has been met with a mixture of derision and praise, reports Reuters.

“I never agree with Sanchez because he has a vision of the world that is the opposite of mine. He says one thing ​and then does another,” said Matteo Salvini, Italy’s ​Deputy Prime Minister and leader of ⁠the far-right League party, when asked at a press conference on Wednesday about Sanchez’s condemnation of the war in Iran.

German officials told Reuters they viewed Sanchez’s confrontational stance as aimed at a domestic audience and unconstructive for preserving NATO unity. Germany has been openly critical ​of Spain’s refusal to increase its defence spending in line with other members of the alliance.

Among the conservative-led German government’s Social Democrat coalition ​partners there is more ⁠sympathy.

“Sanchez expresses things about the U.S. policy we would like to say as well,” one lawmaker said.

In a tweet that went viral a couple of days ago, Sophia Chikirou, a deputy for the La France Insoumise party, highlighted how absurd it is that only one European head of state has had the political courage to oppose Israel’s myriad war crimes in West Asia:

History will remember that a single European head of state had the courage to stand up to the criminals who rule Israel. Pedro Sánchez belongs to the Spanish Socialist Party which, as everyone can see, has the same positions as La France Insoumise on this issue. Lebanon, like Palestine, deserves our solidarity and support.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that Sánchez is scheduled to embark on a four-day official visit to China — his fourth visit in as many years. Spanish officials have stressed that this is a high-level official visit as Madrid seeks to bolster relations with what they describe as a key strategic partner, with the caveat that Sánchez’s overtures towards China’s are in line with the EU’s approach and interests. Such assurances are unlikely to placate an already apoplectic Trump administration.

UPDATE: Netanyahu has announced his government’s first retaliatory action in response to Spain’s so-called “diplomatic war” against Israel: the removal of all Spanish officials from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat. The center was established by the US to monitor the implementation of President Trump’s Gaza “peace” plan. According to Anadolu, dozens of countries participate in the center. Apparently they no longer include Spain.

Again, in the long haul this may prove to be a blessing in disguise. However, as the historian and journalist José Miguel Villarroya warns in an interview with Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, Netanyahu’s threat should be taken very seriously: “Israel has many networks of influence, including in Spain. As such, we need to be vigilant for any actions that could harm Spain economically or diplomatically.”

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20 comments

  1. paul

    “Sanchez expresses things about the U.S. policy we would like to say as well,” one lawmaker said.

    Those poor, tongue tied lawmakers, they should be in all our thoughts.

  2. Quintian and Lucius

    It all but makes my eye twitch, but if Sanchez’ opposition to Amerizion is an unprincipled reflection of Spanish popular opinion is that not – and may god have mercy on my soul for suggesting it – an example of representative democracy actually working? And it’s not as though it’s some performative social issue which doesn’t matter to most Spaniards ultimately, the relational fallout which could result from naked opposition to an American adventure may well hit the bottom line of the public, so fundamentally this is a manifestation of the will of the demos affecting actual policy.

    I’m American so this is shocking to me I’m not sure I’ve seen or experienced the like in my lifetime.

  3. The Rev Kev

    This is just a bluff by Trump. The US has the Naval Station Rota in Cádiz and the Morón Air Base in Seville. Both are invaluable to the US, especially since Spain has access to the North Atlantic. The Pentagon will never allow either of those bases to be closed. And with Sanchez making a trip to China, I am sure that the Chinese will be ready to throw him a lifeline if needed, not only to infuriate Trump but also to put a wedge between Spain and the useless NATO organization.

  4. fjallstrom

    Spain need not fear an invasion from any of its neighbours and without US bases the US can’t drag it into a war with one of their neighbours. What’s the loss for Spain?

    1. WillD

      None; if anything, it’s a bonus because without the bases there, Spain is no longer a military target.

  5. Carolinian

    Re Spanish public opinion–perhaps a country that once lived under Franco looks at Israeli fascism and says “quacks like a duck.”

    1. jrkrideau

      ++

      In a way it may match South Africa taking Israel to the International Court of Justice. SA remembers apartheid.

  6. Pat

    I’m going to come at this from a totally pull it out of my nether regions perspective. If things continue as I believe they will, as it appears many of us here foresee, Sanchez will be seen as principled and prescient. Pretty soon having American military installations could be considered more of a liability in Europe. People are going to move from being uncomfortable but largely unconcerned about the US’s illegal war, to being outraged and disapproving, hating it. Leaders even mildly supportive of this epic failure are going to find themselves with drive-in screen size targets on their heads and their rears. And unlike America, where protests annoy our “betters” but are largely toothless, most European countries face protests with teeth…big teeth. Destruction of the economy doesn’t play well anywhere.

    1. JDoyle

      His principles resulted in giving amnesty to 500k African chancers (which grew to 1m) and then cried to Europe to help him out by taking some.

    2. jrkrideau

      If the USA leaves bases in Europe, one wonders what effect this action might have on Japan and the US bases on Okinawa?

      Also it may not be good for the current Japanese PM.

  7. jdoyle

    That’s insane the poll shows support for an EU army. Do Spaniards really want to throw their kids lives away for Ursula Von der Crazy and Merz globalists? I have my doubts.

    1. jrkrideau

      I think if NATO goes down so does a lot of the political elites in the EU. Merz is already on life support, IIRC Macon is near the end of term. If Orbán survives this upcoming election he is likely to support a Brussels purge and Robert Fico in Slovakia is likely to be happy to supply matches for any auto–de–fé that other Europeans are holding.

      Meloni has taken enough crap from Von der Leyen that she is likely to help “rearange” the EU.

  8. Moone Boy

    The Irish Republic’s Head of State – Catherine Connolly – while as part of her new job the diplomat-in-chief, has had plenty of condemnation for Israel and its genocide both:
    https://www.politico.eu/article/irelands-new-left-wing-president-connolly-denounces-genocide-but-not-israel/
    and
    https://www.timesofisrael.com/far-left-candidate-who-called-israel-terrorist-state-elected-president-of-ireland/

    (For the Record: “Far left” in the English language seems to mean, simply, “not morally-spineless political protozoa”)

  9. Anselmo

    In my opinion, to join with the USA in a war against Iran, Rusia or China Will not be good for Spain. And the oligarchs of USA should think about the historic examples of situations similar to the present day situation , wich can be sumarized as the problem of the weakening of the hegemony of an old military power because the rising of an ascendent power, and wich is known like the “Trap of Tucidides”.

  10. JohnH

    Maybe Spain should consider levying tolls in the Strait of Gibraltar in response to Trump’s threats…

  11. Mel

    By what I think I gleaned from Michael Hudson’s Super imperialism, closing U.S. bases would not be a punishment.
    IIRC the bases get their everyday supplies by buying in the host’s national market, and paying in US$. The US$ filter through the host’s banking system and arrive at the host central bank, which uses them to uy US Treasury Bonds. In Hudson’s phrase, the U.S. pays for its foreign operations by “exporting inflation”, in that the US$ are used to bid for goods in the host’s market, potentially inflating prices, but, parked in Treasury Bonds, the US$ never return to bid in the U.S. market, nor threaten inflationary pressure there.

    I suppose as long as the US$ remains a petrodollar, Spaniards can buy oil with the US$, so the effect I outlined above may not be so serious.

  12. Kouros

    There is no legal underpinnings in the Washington Treaty, which makes copious references to the UN Charter, that could compel member states to join another member state in a war of aggression. In fact, everyone providing support are put in the same basket as the original agressor by past UN resolutions.

    And, of course, the UN Charter puts the War of Agression as the ultimate crime. Nobody in the west dares to clear their throats to spell it out and even cite from the UN Charter and explain what is happening and how wrong Trump & the US are (Israel is, unfortunately , a nation of beasts that look like people and speak like people, but are in fact beasts with abehaviour that is also un-natural in the animal kingdom) and how wrong those supporting US and Israel are.

  13. dearieme

    I’m puzzled. The US Navy obviously knows that it can’t force a passage through the Strait, which is why it is cowering 1000 kilometres offshore. Then how could a rag-tag fleet of Allied navies manage the trick?

  14. ISL

    More likely than stirring up trouble in Morrocan – spanish territories is trouble in the Basque… Weapons and color change revolution as a lesson to the rest of Europe.

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