Spain has formally denied the United States permission to employ its military bases to launch attacks against Iran, a move signaling growing European dissent over the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The decision, announced Monday, comes amid a surge in criticism from Madrid regarding what it deems a dangerous and unjustified military intervention.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez explicitly condemned the unilateral military actions undertaken by the United States and Israel against Iran, warning that such aggressive measures would only exacerbate global instability and contribute to a more hostile and uncertain international order. “Today, more than ever, We see important to remember that one can oppose a hateful regime – as Spanish society as a whole does with the Iranian regime – but at the same time oppose unjust and dangerous military interventions that are outside international law,” Sanchez stated during a speech in Barcelona, as reported by The Guardian.
Madrid’s firm stance was reinforced by an official rejection of requests for U.S. Military access to Rota and Moron air bases for continued airstrikes against Iran. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares affirmed that the bases were not being used – and would not be used – for any operations not covered by existing agreements with the U.S. Or the United Nations Charter. “I want to convey this very clearly and bluntly. These bases are not being used – and will not be used – for anything that is not contemplated in the agreements with the US, or for anything that is not covered by the UN Charter,” Albares told Telecinco.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles echoed this sentiment, stating that no bases had been utilized in U.S. Military operations to date. She emphasized that any military cooperation with Washington must adhere to international legal frameworks and receive broad international support. “There is an agreement with the US regarding these bases, but our understanding of the agreement is that operations must comply with the international legal framework and there must be international support for it,” Robles told reporters.
Despite the official denials, data from the Flightradar24 flight tracking website indicates significant military air activity. At least 15 U.S. Military aircraft reportedly departed Rota and Moron since the commencement of U.S. And Israeli strikes over the weekend, with at least seven detected landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
U.S. Defense officials have remained silent, declining to comment on the reasons for the aircraft departures from Spanish territory. Sanchez, however, openly criticized the offensive launched by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as destabilizing to the world.
Sanchez’s sharp rebuke is expected to strain relations with Trump, who has previously criticized Spain for its reluctance to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP as requested by NATO. This move, however, aligns with Sanchez’s consistent vocal criticism of the war in Gaza and the European Union’s response to the conflict.
Other European leaders have adopted a more cautious approach to Trump’s efforts to effect regime change in Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially hesitated to authorize the use of the Diego Garcia base, but reversed course after Iran launched retaliatory strikes that impacted a British airbase in Cyprus. “We will take steps to defend our interests and our allies in the region, potentially through necessary and proportionate defensive action to degrade Iran’s ability to fire missiles and drones from its territory,” stated a joint statement from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Trump reacted dismissively to the shift in Britain’s position, stating that London had taken “too long” to grant access to its bases. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington, indicated an understanding of the dilemma surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions but refrained from criticizing its allies. “So we will not lecture our partners on their military attacks against Iran. Despite all the doubts, we have many common goals with them,” Merz stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a lasting diplomatic solution to the Iranian crisis, affirming that the European Union would work to mitigate the potential negative consequences of the recent military developments.