Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in airstrikes on Iran.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced the move Monday, marking a widening of the diplomatic rift between Madrid and Washington.
“As we’ve said from the beginning, we will not authorize the use of [the Moron Air Base] and [Naval Station Rota] for any acts related to the war in Iran. We have made this clear to the American government from the beginning,” Ms. Robles told reporters. “We don’t authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran.”
Spain’s government under socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been the loudest voice in Europe denouncing the U.S. and Israeli air campaign against Iran.
“We have denied the United States the use of the Rota and Moron bases for this illegal war,” Mr. Sanchez told Spanish lawmakers. “All flight plans that involved actions related to the operation in Iran were rejected — every single one of them, including those of refueling aircraft.”
Spain’s rejection forced the U.S. to relocate more than a dozen military aircraft. At least nine Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling planes were shifted to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Some support aircraft were moved to RAF Fairford in England, where bombers such as the B-52 and the B-1 were being positioned.
The loss of Spain as a Mediterranean refueling center is a significant blow because the war is heavily dependent on long-range strikes. President Trump has threatened to cut off trade with Madrid over its refusal to support the Iran war effort and resistance to increasing its NATO spending.
“It has not been easy, but I believe we have done so because this is allowed, among other things, by the bilateral agreement governing these bases,” Mr. Sanchez said. “And because we are a sovereign country that does not wish to take part in illegal wars.”
