March 3, 2026
SUNTV Global Channel | International News
Spain has categorically rejected the use of its joint military bases by the United States for operations against Iran, distancing itself from the escalating conflict and describing the campaign as unlawful under international law.
Speaking on Spanish public television, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid had received no indication that US forces were deploying Spanish facilities for the ongoing strikes.
“Based on all the information I have, the bases are not being used for this military operation,” Albares stated on Monday.
Sanchez Condemns US-Israeli Strikes
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez openly criticised the military action carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling it an “unjustified” and “dangerous military intervention” conducted outside the framework of international law.
In a video circulated by Al Jazeera, Sanchez warned that the strikes marked a troubling escalation.
“We are rushing headlong into an unprovoked, increasingly unstable and belligerent war,” he said.
“Two countries, the United States and Israel, attacked Iran without consulting the international community.”
Sanchez stressed that opposition to Iran’s government does not automatically justify armed intervention.
“It is possible to be against a hateful regime—as Spanish society is against the Iranian regime—while also rejecting an unjustified and dangerous military intervention that falls outside international law,” he added.
He further argued that the strikes lacked proper authorisation, pointing to the absence of approval from the US Congress and the United Nations Security Council.
Spain’s Bases Remain Under Sovereignty
Reinforcing the government’s position, Albares said Spain would not authorise any use of its facilities beyond existing bilateral agreements or outside UN guidelines. The joint installations at Naval Base Rota and Morón Air Base operate under Spanish sovereignty, despite hosting US forces.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles echoed the stance, stating that the bases would only provide support if required for humanitarian purposes.
Aircraft Movements Raise Questions
Data released Monday by FlightRadar24 showed that 15 US aircraft departed from southern Spanish bases following the launch of US and Israeli operations, with at least seven landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
While Spain opposes the initial strikes, Madrid also condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks targeting Gulf states.
Europe Divided
Spain’s firm position contrasts with other major European powers. The United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, initially withheld permission for US use of British bases but later authorised access for what it described as “collective self-defence” after Iranian counterattacks.
France and Germany have also signalled readiness to align with Washington. In a joint statement, European leaders said they were “appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks launched by Iran against countries in the region.”
As tensions continue to rise across the Middle East, Spain is urging diplomacy over warfare, insisting that negotiation remains the only sustainable path to de-escalation.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments in this unfolding international crisis.
