According to a report by Al-Jazeera on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, there is growing anger in Spain over what many see as a lack of unified European backing for Madrid’s rejection of the United States’ military campaign against Iran. The frustration is not only about Washington’s diplomatic and economic pressure including threats of trade sanctions but also about muted support from some key European capitals, particularly Berlin.
Spanish politicians and commentators have voiced their disappointment that Germany’s Friedrich Merz did not publicly stand alongside Spain when U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticised Madrid during a joint news conference. At that event, Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain over its refusal to allow U.S. forces to use Spanish military bases for operations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Spain’s foreign minister said he expressed “surprise” to his German counterpart over what he described as a lack of solidarity from Berlin.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has taken a firm stand against the war, declaring in a televised address that Spain’s position is “no to the war” and that his government will not be complicit in military action it deems contrary to international law. Sánchez has drawn parallels to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, warning against repeating the mistakes of that conflict and emphasising the need for diplomacy over military escalation.
Madrid’s stance has set it apart from many European partners. While other European Union governments have condemned Iranian attacks on regional countries, few have explicitly criticised the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran itself. Spain’s foreign minister has argued that the current military offensive lacks clear legal justification and that the EU should promote de‑escalation and negotiations rather than taking sides militarily.
Some in Spain feel this principled position has not been met with firm backing from fellow European capitals. The hampered display of unity has underscored long‑standing debates within the EU about how closely the bloc should align with U.S. foreign policy, particularly in matters of war and peace. Many Spaniards and officials had hoped for a more robust European diplomatic front supporting Madrid’s call for restraint, especially given Europe’s own recent history of opposing past U.S. military interventions.See_More…