• Spain orders 15 US military aircraft to leave Rota and Morón bases following US-Israel strikes on Iran, asserting sovereignty over the installations.
  • President Donald Trump criticizes Spain at Davos for not committing to raise NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP, calling it the only holdout among allies.
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defends tripling the defense budget to €34 billion annually while prioritizing social services, setting up a potential diplomatic clash.

Sovereignty Clash at Strategic Bases

In a sharp escalation of US-Spain tensions, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced on March 3, 2026, the expulsion of 15 US military aircraft from the Rota and Morón air bases. According to people familiar with the matter, the decision came swiftly after US-Israel attacks on Iran, which Spain condemned. Albares stated unequivocally that the bases, under Spanish sovereignty since agreements dating to 1953 and 1988, "cannot be used for such operations." Public reactions have praised the government's "backbone," with one social media user commenting "BRAVO" on the move, though the US Department of Defense has not yet issued an official response.

This development follows President Trump's remarks at the Davos Forum on January 23, where he singled out Spain as the lone NATO ally resisting his push to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. "I have commitments from virtually all NATO allies... except Spain. I don’t know what’s going on with Spain; we’re going to have to talk," Trump said, framing it as an issue of burden-sharing. His comments, which some observers interpreted as hyperbolic, accused Spain of wanting to "travel for free" on security, igniting a diplomatic row that has now spilled into military operations.

Defense Spending and Domestic Priorities

Prime Minister Sánchez countered Trump's claims by highlighting that Spain has tripled its defense budget to €34 billion annually since he took office, an amount that exceeds the combined spending of 13 NATO countries. In a statement, Sánchez emphasized that this meets the alliance's 2% GDP target while allowing Spain to protect healthcare, education, and social services—key priorities for Spanish taxpayers. "We are willing to discuss this directly with President Trump," Sánchez said, according to sources close to the government, signaling openness to dialogue amid the strain.

The dispute taps into broader pressures on NATO allies, with Trump also pushing Europe on issues like Greenland. Spain's resistance to further hikes reflects its post-COVID economic recovery strategy, where social spending remains a political imperative. Meanwhile, US global tariffs of 10%, potentially rising to 15%, add trade friction with the EU, including Spain. A former Spanish official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity, noted "chaos and instability" in US relations, warning that retaliation could hit Spanish exports like autos and agriculture.

Implications and Next Steps

Short-term, all eyes are on a potential Trump-Sánchez call to defuse the crisis, but risks loom. Without a deal, Spain could face reduced base access or targeted tariffs, while the US might seek alternative staging grounds in the region. The aircraft departure is tied to the Iran conflict; experts flag that escalation could affect Balearics tourism and security, given recent sightings of giant US aircraft overflying Mallorca. Long-term, this strains NATO cohesion, with Spain likely to seek EU solidarity against US demands. As one analyst put it, "This isn't just about spending—it's a test of sovereignty in an unpredictable alliance."

Correction: An earlier version misstated the number of US aircraft; it is 15, not 20, based on updated information from Spanish authorities.