Confusion in the relationship between Spain and the United States in the midst of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. While the White House spoke last night of a situation already on track with Madrid, the Spanish Government flatly denied it. All this in a day also marked by new episodes of the war in the region and by the internal political tension with the regional investitures and the problems of Vox.
Clash between Spain and the United States
The first thing is, given what we have seen, the confusion of the relationship between Spain and the United States after the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, admitted last night that the situation between both countries had been channeled, to the point of highlighting the cooperation that Spain maintains with the US army.
The Spanish Government barely took a few minutes to deny it. The Foreign Minister did so bluntly, Jose Manuel Albaresvisibly upset.
The reaction came a few hours after the Minister of Defense, Margaret Roblesreceived the new United States ambassador in Spain, Benjamin Leon. In the official note released by the Ministry of Defense no disagreement between both countries is mentioned. However, in the images released by the ministry itself, Robles is heard saying: “no, no, no, I am with Trump, what happens is that sometimes people here…”at which point the video cuts off.
It is not clear if it is that conversation that the White House spokesperson was referring to. The truth is that the change in tone compared to other members of the Trump Administration was striking. The Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, had even accused Spain of put the lives of Spaniards at risk by not allowing the use of the Morón and Rota bases for the offensive against Iran.
The war expands and international tension increases
The conflict continues to slowly expand. Spain continues to be a member of NATO and maintains a mission in Türkiye with a Patriot anti-missile battery within the Alliance’s defensive system.
It has not been clarified whether the base where the Spanish detachment is deployed was the target of the Iranian missile intercepted by the NATO anti-aircraft system. In any case, it is the first direct action that affects the Alliance since the beginning of the conflict, without, for now, Article 5 of the treaty having been activated, which establishes that an attack against one member is equivalent to an attack against all.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s prime minister has warned Iran that attacks on US bases on its territory constitute aggression and that his country reserves the right to self-defense.
Another episode that marks a qualitative leap has been the sinking of an Iranian ship with 180 people on board in waters near Sri Lanka. The United States has recognized the operation and has noted that it was carried out with the first launch of a submarine torpedo since World War II.
Added to all this is the total blackout that Iraq suffered yesterday, which left the entire country without electricity. The Iraqi Government attributes it to a technical failure due to lack of gas supply in one of its main plants, although some media also point to the possibility of a cyber attack.
Regional political tension: investitures and internal crisis in Vox
In national politics, no surprises in Extremadura: María Guardiola failed to be invested in the first vote after Vox voted against. If the result is repeated tomorrow in the second vote, a period of two months will be opened to negotiate before a possible electoral repetition.
Vox demands guarantees that the Mercosur agreement will be rejected and that there will be firm opposition to any distribution of immigrants.
Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal’s party faces new internal problems in the Region of Murcia. Your regional leader, Jose Manuel Antelohas denounced the party after discovering that someone used his digital signature to request his dismissal as parliamentary spokesperson. As he explains, he found out when he received acknowledgment of receipt of a petition that he had apparently signed himself. Abascal has responded that, if he does not want to continue at Vox, “you can go now”.
The polls in Castilla y León are not particularly favorable for the party either. Tonight the debate between the PP, Vox and PSOE candidates takes place. Before, at nine in the morning, the socialist candidate will be on this program Carlos Martinez.
