The United States has attacked Spain again this Wednesday for its refusal to allow the use of the Morón and Rota bases within the framework of the offensive against Iran. This time it was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who directly accused Spain of being “putting American lives in danger.”
“It is unacceptable that this weekend Spain was very uncooperative when it came to US bases and what we could do with our planes while we carried out Operation Epic Fury (…) Anything that delays our ability to carry out this war in the quickest and most effective way puts American lives at risk. The Spanish are putting American lives at risk,” Bessent explained this Wednesday.
The North American secretary thus follows the line set this Tuesday by Donald Trump, who showed his anger with Spain and even threatened to cut all commercial relations with our country in a new attack by the Trump Administration on the Sánchez Executive.
“President Trump’s frustration with the Spanish Government is justified,” he said.
Bessent has also spoken out about this possible trade blockade, stating that, if it occurs, “it will be a combined effort”, although he has not given details about the legal framework that the US Government could use to apply these measures.
Criticism of defense spending
The Trump Administration’s disagreements with Spain go back a long way and began after the Government did not commit to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP, as the rest of the NATO countries did.
Trump then called Spain “disrespectful” toward NATO and floated the possibility of imposing trade retaliation and tariffs on Spain. Days later he even talked about the possibility of expelling our country from the Alliance if it did not commit to increasing spending.
This Tuesday, after the refusal to allow the use of the Morón and Rota bases in the offensive against Iran, Trump described Spain as “a terrible ally.”
“They have been the only member of NATO that has not met the requirements and they are deliberately acting as opportunists, taking advantage of the United States and the rest of the members that have taken the step. NATO has never been as strong as under President Trump, but the Spanish do not want to pay their own way,” Bessent explained this Wednesday.
