Spain closes its airspace to all US aircraft involved in Iran war
The ban comes amid strained relations between Madrid and Washington following US President Donald Trump's threat earlier this month to cut off all trade with Spain over its refusal to allow the bases to be used for Iran operations.
Spain has banned US military aircraft involved in the Iran war from using its airspace and military bases, extending an earlier restriction that applied only to two American installations on Spanish soil.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed the expanded ban on Monday, telling Catalan radio station Rac 1 that Madrid would block any US flights linked to the conflict from entering Spanish airspace.
"Spain should not do anything that could escalate" the conflict, Albares said. He added that the decision reflects the "majority sentiment" of Spaniards who oppose the war and aligns with UN principles.
The measure builds on Spain's previous decision to restrict US access to the naval base at Rota in Cádiz and the air base at Morón de la Frontera in Seville.
The airspace ban now covers the entire country. It does not apply to emergency situations, according to Spanish military sources cited by El País.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, speaking to radio Cadena Ser on Monday, described the US-led military action as "a unilateral war that violates international law" and said Spain would not participate in or contribute to it.
The ban comes amid strained relations between Madrid and Washington following US President Donald Trump's threat earlier this month to cut off all trade with Spain over its refusal to allow the bases to be used for Iran operations.
Trump called Spain "terrible" and said Madrid wanted to "travel for free" on defence spending.
"We could use their base if we want, we could just fly in and use it, nobody's going to tell us not to use it," Trump said, speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his White House visit on 4 March.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the restrictions had been communicated to US forces from the outset and were not a sudden policy shift.
"This was made perfectly clear to the US armed forces from the beginning," Robles told reporters. "Neither the bases are authorised, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorised for any action related to the war in Iran."
She described the war as "profoundly illegal and unjust" and said Spain's position had been consistently clear.
Spain maintains close defence ties with the US through a bilateral agreement that grants Washington access to military facilities on Spanish territory.
The Rota naval base hosts a permanent US Navy presence and serves as a key logistics hub for American operations in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The airspace restriction could complicate US military logistics, as Spain sits along key flight routes between the United States and the Middle East.
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