Spain on Monday, March 2, barred the United States (U.S) from using its joint military bases for operations against Iran, distancing itself from ongoing strikes and describing the military escalation as unlawful.
Spain foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid had received no indication that the facilities were being deployed for the campaign.
“Based on all the information I have, the bases are not being used for this military operation,” Albares said.
Prime minister Pedro Sanchez has openly criticised the U.S and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday, branding them an unjustified and dangerous military intervention outside the framework of international law.
His remarks signal a clear divergence from Washington’s stance.
Sanchez expressed concern over what he described as a dangerous escalation of tensions following attacks carried out by the U.S and Israel on Iran.
According to him, the strikes were undertaken without consultation with the broader international community.
“We are rushing headlong into an unprovoked, increasingly unstable and belligerent war,” Sanchez said.
“Therefore one that is unjust for ordinary people. Those fears were confirmed again when two countries, the United States and Israel attacked Iran without consulting the international community.”
The Spanish leader emphasised that opposition to Iran’s government does not automatically justify military intervention.
He noted that it is possible to criticise Tehran’s leadership while also rejecting external armed action that falls outside established international legal frameworks.
“It is possible to be against a hateful regime as Spanish society as a whole is against the Iranian regime and at same time be against an unjustified dangerous military intervention that is outside international law,” he stated.
Sanchez further argued that the military action lacked proper authorisation, pointing to the absence of approval from both the U.S congress and the global body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
“One must be against a war that was started without the authorisation of the U.S congress or the U.S security council and as I said violates international law,” he said.
The prime minister also called for diplomacy and dialogue as alternatives to armed confrontation, urging global leaders to prioritise negotiations over violence.
“There is always room for negotiated solution, rather than being swept away by devastation of weapons as the only possible outcome,” Sanchez added.
Reinforcing the government’s position, Albares stressed that any activity at the joint facilities must strictly comply with existing agreements and international law.
“The Spanish government will not authorise the use of the bases for anything beyond the agreement or inconsistent with the United Nations,” Albares said, referring to the Naval Base Rota and Morón Air Base.
Although the U.S operates at both bases under a bilateral arrangement, the installations remain under Spanish sovereignty.
Defence minister Margarita Robles echoed the position, stating the bases will not provide support, except if, in a given case, it were necessary from a humanitarian perspective.
While opposing the initial strikes, Spain also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf countries.
It was learnt that 15 U.S aircraft had departed southern Spanish bases since the launch of U.S and Israeli operations, with at least seven landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
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