Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Friday that relations with the United States should be guided by ‘loyal cooperation’ rather than ‘confrontation’, following rising tensions between Madrid and Washington over Spain’s refusal to allow US forces to use its military bases for strikes on Iran.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro (with Sánchez in main image) in the southern Spanish city of Huelva (Andalusia), Sánchez said relations between the two countries must be conducted ‘with respect, in a spirit of loyal cooperation and on an equal footing’.
The Spanish leader again condemned the military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, describing them as an ‘extraordinary mistake’ and saying they were ‘not in accordance with international law’.
‘Between allied countries, it is good to help when the other is right, but also to tell them when they are wrong or make a mistake, as is the case here,’ the socialist (PSOE) leader added.
The remarks come after US President Donald Trump attacked Sánchez’s government earlier this week, branding Spain a ‘terrible’ ally and threatening to cut off all trade with the country. ALSO READ: Trump vows to ‘cut off all trade’ with Spain over Iran stance: ‘We don’t want anything to do with Spain’.
Sánchez responded the following day by reinforcing his opposition to the war and reiterating that Washington would not be allowed to use the joint US-Spanish bases in southern Spain for air operations against Iran. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez responds to Donald Trump: ‘No to war’.
Trump escalated his criticism again on Thursday in an interview with the The New York Post, where he described Spain as ‘a loser’. ALSO READ: Trump attacks Spain yet again, calling the country ‘a loser’.
Tensions between the two leaders had already been building over several other policy disputes. Sánchez has refused to back a NATO commitment — pushed strongly by Trump — for members to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP. He has also been sharply critical of Israel’s war in Gaza. ALSO READ: Spanish government hits back after renewed tariff threats from Donald Trump over defence spending.
The Spanish prime minister has additionally condemned Washington’s military operation to seize Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, and last month wrote an opinion article in The New York Times criticising Trump’s immigration crackdown in the United States. ALSO READ: As Venezuelans rejoice in Madrid, Sánchez warns against US intervention that violates international law.
Despite the sharp disagreements, Sánchez struck a conciliatory tone on Friday, saying he had ‘immense respect for the US presidency and great admiration for American society’. ALSO READ: Sánchez: Spain will not join Trump’s Board of Peace, preferring UN-led multilateralism.
Portugal, however, has taken a different approach to the Iran conflict. Lisbon has authorised the United States to use its Lajes air base in the Azores during the bombing campaign.
Montenegro nevertheless cautioned that disputes between allies should be handled differently, stating that ‘threats and accusations are not the way to manage relations between allies’.
Public opinion in Spain appears to favour the government’s stance. A poll published Friday in the newspaper El País found that 53.2% of Spaniards support Sánchez’s decision not to allow the United States to use the Rota naval base and Morón airbase. ALSO READ: US military aircraft leave Spain after government prohibits use of bases for Iran attacks.
ALSO READ: Spain to send frigate to Cyprus to ‘offer protection’ and ‘support any evacuation of civilians’.
ALSO READ: Military aircraft carrying 172 Spanish citizens evacuated from Middle East lands in Madrid.
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Frente a las amenazas y represalias, están los principios, están los valores, está la posición del Gobierno respecto al derecho internacional. Por encima de cualquier otra consideración.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 6, 2026
Absoluta tranquilidad.
Gracias al buen momento económico que atraviesa España, tenemos… pic.twitter.com/4N3ddHTgLN
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