The Spanish Government’s refusal to allow the United States to use the bases in Morón (Seville) and Rota (Cádiz) to support the offensive against Iran has generated reactions from the North American country. One of the most influential senators of the Republican Party, Lindsey Graham, has criticized Pedro Sánchez’s Executive and has questioned Spain’s commitment as an ally.
“In times like these, the true nature of your allies is discovered,” Graham wrote in his official account, after remembering that during his time in the US Air Force he was stationed in Spanish bases and that he has always felt “great admiration for the Spanish people.”
However, the senator accuses the current government of becoming the “gold standard of pathetically weak European leadership” and of being reluctant to condemn the Iranian regime while criticizing the United States. “I hope that the current Spanish Government is an aberration, not the norm,” warning that history will judge the position adopted by Spain.
Spain denies the use of the bases
The Spanish Executive has refused to provide military support to the US operation against Iran, considering that it does not fit into the Defense Cooperation Agreement signed between both countries nor does it have the protection of international legality.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has assured that “the bases are not and will not be used for anything that is not within the agreement and that does not fit into the United Nations Charter.” Along the same lines, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, emphasizes that the offensive lacks a “framework of international legality” and emphasizes that Washington and Tel Aviv are acting “unilaterally, without the support of an international resolution.”
The bilateral agreement establishes that Spain must authorize any operation that exceeds what is provided for in the agreement, including transit or resupply missions.
Withdrawal of US aircraft
In parallel, at least fifteen US aircraft, mainly KC-135 tanker aircraft, have left the Morón and Rota bases in recent days. As detailed by Robles, the devices “were not going to carry out any action” and their departure responds to operational decisions by the United States.
Air tracking data show that some of these planes headed to the German base at Ramstein and facilities in France.
Sánchez’s position
The President of the Government has defended that the Spanish position is consistent with international law. Pedro Sánchez described the Iranian regime as “hateful”, but maintained that this does not justify military intervention outside the legal framework.
“You can be against a hateful regime like the Iranian one and at the same time be against an unjustified, dangerous military intervention outside of international legality,” he said. Furthermore, he warned that the means used in the offensive could aggravate the conflict instead of resolving it.
