Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez firmly rejected the threat of American President Donald Trump to cut off all commercial relations with his country after Madrid refused to allow the use of two jointly operated bases for U.S. strikes against Iran.
Sánchez stated that Spain's position is "clear and consistent" and identical to that adopted in the cases of Ukraine and Gaza, as reported by The Guardian.
Madrid opposes "violations of international law that protect us all" and the idea that "the world can only solve its problems through conflicts and bombs."
"The position of the Spanish government can be summarized simply: No to war!" he said, warning against "repeating past mistakes."
The Prime Minister compared the current situation to the invasion of Iraq in the 2000s, stating that the war led to increased terrorism and migration, making the world less safe.
In his view, a war with Iran will not bring stability, will cause economic disruptions, and will drive energy prices up.
Sánchez promised that Spain will assist its citizens stranded in the region, although he warned that the airspace remains unsafe. "Our citizens can be sure that we will protect them and bring them home safely," he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Madrid will use its status as a member of the EU and NATO to call for the cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomatic dialogue. "We must demand a firm decision from the United States, Iran, and Israel to stop (this conflict - ed.) before it is too late," Sánchez stated. He added that "an illegality cannot be met with another, because that's how the great disasters of humanity begin" and warned against "playing Russian roulette with the fate of millions of people."
In a passage interpreted as a direct criticism of Trump, the leader from Madrid stated, "We will not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values and interests just out of fear of reprisals from someone." He added that Spain has "absolute confidence in the economic, institutional, and even more so in the strength of our country."
Sánchez insisted that his position "is not naive at all, but consistent" and rejected the idea that violence could bring democracy or respect among nations.
"The question is not whether we support the ayatollahs or not. No one does. Certainly not the Spanish people and certainly not the Spanish government. The question is whether we are on the side of international law and, therefore, on the side of peace," he said.
The Guardian notes that Sánchez's speech was "very direct" and represented a clear rejection of the U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran, as well as a call for Europe to learn from past mistakes and respect international law.
The British publication emphasizes that the statement of the Spanish Prime Minister strongly contrasts with the more hesitant positions of other European leaders and that the phrase regarding the refusal to act "out of fear of reprisals" seems to be a clear reference to Donald Trump.
Trump's Anger and the EU's Reaction
American President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that he "will cut off all commercial relations with Spain" due to its position on the offensive against Iran.
He stated that "Spain has behaved horribly" and "does not want to have anything to do" with this country.
The European Commission reacted as early as Tuesday evening, avoiding going into details about a threat considered still unclear, but emphasizing that it will defend the interests of the European bloc.
"The Commission will always ensure the full protection of the interests of the European Union," stated the European Commission's Trade spokesperson.
European officials reminded that Spain is an EU member state and part of the single market, so any trade issue with Madrid automatically represents a problem with the entire EU bloc. Brussels emphasized that it expects Washington to respect the trade agreement signed with the EU last summer.