Spain closes airspace to US military planes tied to strikes on Iran
Madrid said its airspace and jointly operated military bases cannot be used for any US action related to the Iran war, while emergency cases remain exempt.
- Spain has prohibited the United States from using its airspace and jointly operated military bases for any operations connected to the conflict in Iran.
- The Spanish government stated the decision aligns with its position of not participating in a war it considers unilateral and in breach of international law.
- This move expands a previous restriction on base access and comes amid criticism of the US attacks by Spain's Prime Minister and threats of trade cuts from the US President.
Spain said on Monday (March 30) it would allow neither its airspace nor its jointly operated military bases to be used by the United States for operations linked to the war in Iran, widening an earlier restriction on base access, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said.
Speaking to reporters in Madrid, Robles said Spain was not authorising the use of either military bases or its airspace for actions connected to the conflict in Iran.
The decision was first reported on Monday by the Spanish newspaper El País, which cited military sources. The report said the measure would force military aircraft heading for targets in the Middle East to avoid NATO member Spain, although emergency cases would not be affected.
Asked whether shutting Spanish airspace could further damage ties with the United States, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo told radio station Cadena Ser that the move was in line with the government’s existing position of not taking part in, or contributing to, a war that had been launched unilaterally and in breach of international law.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the strongest critics of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, describing them as reckless and illegal.
President Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade with Madrid after Spain denied the United States access to its bases for the war.
Reuters
