The European Union (EU) stands in full solidarity with Spain, European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Wednesday, following US President Donald Trump’s threats to chop commerce with Madrid over its stance in opposition to Washington’s assaults on Iran.
“I’ve simply held a name with President Sanchez to precise the EU’s full solidarity with Spain. The EU will at all times be certain that the pursuits of its member states are totally protected,” Costa stated on the social media platform X.
Trump lashed out on the authorities of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, criticizing its refusal to grant use of the Rota naval base and Moron air base, in addition to his refusal to affix Nato allies in a pledge to spice up protection spending.
“So we’ll lower off all commerce with Spain. We do not need something to do with Spain,” Trump stated.
In the meantime, the European Fee stated it was “prepared” to defend EU pursuits.
“We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all their residents and, via our widespread commerce coverage, stand able to act if essential to safeguard EU pursuits,” stated fee spokesperson Olof Gill, in a press release issued in response to Trump’s threats.
In his assertion, Gill recalled that “the EU and the USA concluded a serious commerce deal final yr” and stated “the European Fee expects the USA to totally honor the commitments undertaken” as a part of the accord.
“We are going to proceed to advocate for secure, predictable and mutually helpful transatlantic commerce relations for the advantage of all,” he stated.
“Safeguarding this relationship, notably at a time of world disruption, is extra essential than ever and clearly within the curiosity of either side.”
Sanchez’s leftist authorities has angered Washington with a sequence of different insurance policies, together with staunch opposition to Israel’s army operation in Gaza and the army operation to kidnap and arrest President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.
Nevertheless, in an interview with CNBCthe US Treasury Secretary stated, “Something that slows down our capability to interact in battle places US lives in danger, Spanish placing US lives in danger.”
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday additionally informed Sanchez he stood by him, his workplace stated.
“The president has simply spoken with Prime Minister Sanchez to precise France’s European solidarity in response to the latest threats of financial coercion concentrating on Spain,” it stated.
Spain says it ‘won’t be vassals’
Meanwhile, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero said on Wednesday that the country “will not be vassals” to another country.
“We are certainly not going to be anybody’s vassals, we won’t tolerate any threats and we’ll defend our values,” Montero told reporters, citing support for Spain from the European Commission.
In a televised address earlier on Wednesday, Spanish PM Sanchez reiterated Spain’s anti-war stance, warning that the conflict risked triggering a major global disaster.
“We’re not going to be complicit in something that’s bad for the world, nor contrary to our values and interests, simply to avoid reprisals from someone,” said Sanchez.
One of the most outspoken critics of both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sanchez criticized leaders who “use the fog of war to hide their failure” at home.
“This is how humanity’s great disasters start… You cannot play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions,” he said, highlighting the negative knock-on effects of the Iraq war to argue that the consequences of the attack on Iran were just as nebulous.
