Spain has taken one of the strongest positions among European governments opposing the US-Israeli war on Iran, closing its airspace to US military aircraft involved in the assault and refusing to allow American forces to use Spanish bases for operations tied to the conflict. The decision places Spain in direct opposition to Washington’s strategy and introduces new complications for US military logistics across Europe.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed the policy on Monday, stating that the government would not permit Spanish territory or airspace to be used in support of the war. “We don’t authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran,” Robles told reporters. “I think everyone knows Spain’s position. It’s very clear.” Robles described the war as “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.”
Spain’s policy follows an earlier decision by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to deny US forces permission to launch attacks against Iran from jointly operated bases at Rota and Morón de la Frontera. Those installations have long served as important logistical hubs for US operations in Europe and the Middle East. By restricting their use, Spain has forced the United States to reroute aircraft and rely on alternative bases in other allied countries.
Addressing Spain’s Congress, Sánchez stated that his government had formally rejected military cooperation tied to the war. “We have denied the United States the use of the Rota [de la Frontera] and Morón bases for this illegal war.” He also clarified that the policy applies broadly to operational planning connected to the conflict. “All flight plans involving operations in Iran have been rejected. All of them, including those for refueling aircraft.”
Spain’s refusal to participate has intensified tensions between Madrid and Washington. President Donald Trump threatened economic retaliation after Sánchez barred the use of Spanish bases, reportedly raising the possibility of a full trade embargo. Despite the pressure, Spanish officials have reiterated that the decision is rooted in legal concerns and international obligations.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo emphasized that the government considers the war inconsistent with international law. “This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law,” Cuerpo said in a radio interview.
The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran. One of the first strikes reportedly hit a school, killing at least 160 children and teachers. Sánchez has called for an end to hostilities and warned about the consequences of escalating violations of international law. “You can’t respond to one illegality with another because that’s how humanity’s great disasters begin.”
Legal experts cited in the reporting have pointed to the United Nations Charter as a central framework governing the use of force between states. According to the legal interpretation referenced in the source material, the charter “prohibits the use of force against another State unless that use of force is authorized by the UN Security Council or is a necessary and proportionate act of individual or collective self-defense in response to an armed attack.”
Spain’s restrictions have produced measurable effects on US military operations. At the beginning of the conflict, 15 KC-135 refueling aircraft stationed at Morón de la Frontera and Rota were diverted to bases in France and Germany after Spain refused authorization for their participation in war-related missions. The United States also had to identify alternative locations for long-range bombers, including B-52 and B-1 aircraft.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to allow US bombers to operate from Fairford Air Base in Gloucestershire, England, during the early stages of the war. B-2 Spirit bombers traveling from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri have also been routed to avoid Spanish airspace, instead crossing the Strait of Gibraltar while receiving navigation assistance from the Seville Air Traffic Control Center.
Spanish officials have clarified that the restrictions apply specifically to operations directly connected to the war. Under existing bilateral agreements, US aircraft can still use Spanish bases in emergency situations or for logistical activities related to the approximately 80,000 US troops stationed across Europe.
Reports from Spanish media indicated that dozens of US military flights had used the bases since the conflict began. Responding to claims that at least 70 flights had passed through the installations, Robles stated that the aircraft involved were transport planes and not combat units. She said that “no fighter or refuelling planes were involved.”
Spain’s position has drawn responses from political observers who see the decision as an unusual example of a European government openly opposing US military action. Jonathan Cohn, political director of Progressive Mass, stated that it was “refreshing to see a European country take a hard line against the United States’ illegal and immoral wars.”
Sánchez has also argued that Spain’s stance reflects a broader pattern in its foreign policy decisions. The prime minister noted that Spain was among the first European governments to recognize the state of Palestine, a move that was initially controversial but later adopted by other countries. “They say that Spain is alone,” Sánchez said earlier this month. “They said the same when we recognized the state of Palestine, and then others followed. We are not alone. We are the first. Those defending the indefensible will be the ones left alone.”
Historically, US bombers have operated from Spanish bases during military exercises, but their use in direct attacks on another country has been rare. According to the reporting, the last time B-2 and B-52 bombers were launched from Spanish bases for combat operations occurred during the Gulf war in 1991 under the government of Felipe González.
Spain’s decision to deny airspace access and restrict use of its bases represents a notable break from past patterns of military cooperation between the two countries. The policy highlights growing divisions among western allies regarding the legality and conduct of the war and signals the potential for further diplomatic tensions as the conflict continues.
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