Our European allies haven’t exactly stepped up to the plate during the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran. The U.K. refused to allow us to use their airbases in the initial stages of Operation Epic Fury before partially backing down — but not before seriously damaging the “special relationship” the U.K. and the U.S. have enjoyed for decades.
Spain’s leftist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, meanwhile, said the effort was illegal and that they would do nothing to help. Germany declared, "This is not our war,” and also vowed not to get involved. When Trump tried to put together a coalition to protect the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, almost none of our allies were anywhere to be found.
It was only when Trump told them that they needed the Strait’s oil more than we did and he’d leave them to fend for themselves that they partially changed their tune.
Now Spain is flat-out giving the finger to the U.S.:
Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use of jointly-operated military bases, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Monday.
"We don't authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," she told reporters in Madrid.
When even CBS News calls the Spanish government “leftist,” you know that the current government has really lost its way:
Spain's leftist government has closed Spanish airspace to U.S. planes carrying out missions against Iran, in addition to denying Washington use of its bases, the defense minister said Monday. https://t.co/2TMVQTI6iQ pic.twitter.com/be4yNWqzDE
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 30, 2026
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Although Spain has been part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for more than 40 years, they certainly don’t act like our amigos:
The closure of the airspace forces military planes to bypass NATO member Spain en route to their targets in the Middle East, but it does not include emergency situations, El Pais added...
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been one of the most vocal opponents of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, describing them as reckless and illegal.
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Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo was asked in a radio interview Monday whether the snub to the U.S. would damage relations between the two countries. He didn't seem to care:
This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law.
Part of me wishes we'd say, "We're going to use your airspace anyway. What are you going to do about it?"
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview Monday called Spain’s gambit “disappointing,” especially considering we are required by the NATO pact to defend them if they have an hour of need, yet they're not there for ours:
SECRETARY RUBIO: It’s disappointing to see that in a time of need for the United States, we have countries like Spain, a NATO member that we are pledged to defend, denying us the use of their airspace and bragging about it. pic.twitter.com/IpNHT1QzYD
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 30, 2026
No bueno, Pedro.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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