Spain’s Pedro Sánchez pushes back against Trump’s trade threat, declaring ‘no to war.’

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has firmly responded to US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut trade with Spain, reiterating his opposition to war and his commitment to upholding international law.

In a 10-minute televised address, Sánchez referenced conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and the 2003 Iraq War, summarising Spain’s stance as “no to war.”

Trump had threatened a full trade embargo after Spain refused to allow the US to use jointly-run bases at Morón and Rota for potential strikes on Iran. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump described Spain as “terrible” and said, “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”

Merz later clarified that a separate trade agreement with Germany or the rest of Europe could not exclude Spain. Trump has also criticised Spain for not meeting NATO defence spending targets and labelled it a “poor partner.” Earlier this year, Sánchez had drawn Trump’s ire by opposing the US military presence in Venezuela.

From his residence at La Moncloa in Madrid on Wednesday, Sánchez said the government was reviewing measures to mitigate the economic impact of global conflicts on Spanish citizens, without directly referencing Trump’s trade threat. “The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality,” he said.

Sánchez emphasised that Spain’s position on Iran aligns with its approach to Ukraine and Gaza. He has openly criticised Israel’s response to Hamas attacks in 2023 and has described the situation in Gaza as “genocide,” recognising Palestinian statehood ahead of many EU members.

Looking back at the 2003 Iraq invasion, Sánchez warned that strikes on Iran could have similarly serious economic consequences. He recalled the “Azores trio” George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and Spain’s José María Aznar whose pre-Iraq summit he said left Europe in a “more insecure world and worse life.”

Unlike other NATO allies such as the UK, France, and Greece, Spain has not committed to military action in response to the conflict in Iran. Sánchez stressed that Spain supports countries that have been “illegally attacked by the Iranian regime.”

Domestically, Sánchez faces political pressure from a fragmented coalition and allegations of corruption within his party, but standing up to the US president may bolster his public support. A recent CIS poll found that 77% of Spaniards hold a “bad” or “very bad” opinion of Trump, suggesting broad backing for Sánchez’s position, even among some right-wing voters.

Despite this, uncertainty remains over whether Trump will follow through on economic threats, leaving Spaniards watching developments with concern.