Trump Threatens to Sever Trade Ties with Spain
"We're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The announcement came after the Spanish government declared Monday that US forces had not used — and would not use — Spanish bases to launch attacks on Iran, with Madrid asserting full sovereign authority over its facilities.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, speaking in a televised interview, drew a firm line.
"The bases of Spanish sovereignty will not be used for anything that is not within the agreement with the United States or for anything that does not fit within the charter of the United Nations," he said.
Albares further stressed that while the bases operate under a joint-use arrangement, ultimate authority rests with Spain. He also confirmed that Washington had not forewarned Madrid ahead of its recent strikes, characterizing the offensive as "a unilateral action outside of any collective action."
Trump also turned his fire on London, targeting the UK's agreement with the island nation of Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in exchange for a 99-year lease guaranteeing continued joint operation of the Diego Garcia base — a strategically vital facility that has underpinned US military operations across the Middle East for decades.
Without explicitly naming Diego Garcia, Trump said the UK had been "very uncooperative" during the ongoing Iranian campaign, calling London's stance "shocking."
"The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have, that they gave away and took 100-year lease, having to do with, perhaps, indigenous people claiming the island that never even saw the island before. What's that all about? And they ruin relationships. It's a shame," he said.
Trump said logistical complications around the base had cost valuable time, adding: "It has taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land."
He made clear the delays had frustrated US operational planning. "It would have been much more convenient landing there, as opposed to flying many extra hours. So, we are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," he said, drawing an unfavorable comparison between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the wartime leader.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
