Spain closes its airspace and military bases to U.S. planes involved in operations against Iran

On Monday, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed that Spain has denied the United States access to its airspace and jointly-operated military bases for missions related to the conflict with Iran. This measure expands upon a previous policy that restricted only the use of land-based facilities. According to reports from the newspaper El Pais, military aircraft traveling to the Middle East are now required to bypass Spanish territory, though the restriction excludes emergency situations. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo stated that this decision aligns with the government's refusal to participate in a war it deems to be initiated unilaterally and in violation of international law. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has consistently criticized U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran, labeling them reckless and illegal. In response to the denial of base access, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued threats regarding the potential reduction of trade with Madrid. The Spanish government maintains that its policy remains firm despite potential diplomatic repercussions.