On March 3, speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, President Donald Trump affirmed that the US would completely end trade with Spain. He directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to prepare emergency economic sanctions, marking an unprecedented punishment aimed at an NATO ally.
This decision stems from 2 main contradictions. First, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government resolutely prevented US aircraft from using Rota and Morón air bases to participate in military operations in Iran. Second, Spain is the only country in NATO that does not accept the roadmap to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP as newly required by Washington.
They do not support the base, nor do they comply with military budget commitments. Therefore, the United States does not want to maintain any contact with this country," Mr. Trump declared.
The US President also affirmed that he has the right to unilaterally impose sanctions based on the rulings of the Supreme Court on the International Early Economic Enforcement Act (IEEPA).
Under pressure from Washington, the US military has begun to move 15 military aircraft out of Spanish territory to ensure combat capability in the Middle East.
This sudden withdrawal not only affects stability in the Mediterranean region but also raises a big question about the future of US military bases in Europe.
Military analysts believe that this action shows that the US is ready to restructure its entire presence to serve priority targets in the Gulf region.
The Spanish side responded that they have always been reliable partners but will not trade sovereignty and international law. Madrid emphasized that any changes in trade relations between the US and an EU member must comply with common agreements between the US and Europe.
Economic experts warn that this embargo could cause tens of billions of USD in damage to both sides, while directly threatening the solidarity structure of the NATO alliance.
While bilateral trade turnover is broken, the supply chains of automobiles, energy and agriculture will suffer the heaviest losses. This rift is not only an economic issue but also paves the way for a comprehensive political crisis within the world's largest military alliance.
