Spain Refuses to Allow U.S. to Use Joint Military Bases for Strikes on Iran
Spain has denied the United States permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to carry out strikes against Iran, as Madrid intensified its criticism, describing the “military intervention as unjustified and dangerous.”
Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, clearly condemned the “unilateral military action” by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, warning that it contributes to “a more hostile and insecure international order.”
The criticism was reinforced by his government’s refusal to allow the U.S. to use the bases in Rota and Morón for ongoing strikes against Iran.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, said on Monday that while the government wants “democracy, freedom, and fundamental rights for the Iranian people,” it will under no circumstances permit its bases to be used in continuing military actions.
“I want to be very clear and very precise,” he told Telecinco. “The bases are not being used – nor will they be used – for anything that is not in agreement [with the U.S.], nor for anything that is not covered by the UN Charter.”
Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that neither base had been used in the American military operation.
“There is an agreement with the U.S. regarding these bases, but our understanding of the agreement is that operations must comply with international legal frameworks and that there must be international support for them,” she told reporters.
Maps compiled by the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that 15 U.S. aircraft departed from Rota and Morón after the U.S. and Israel began their strikes over the weekend. At least seven of the aircraft were shown landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.Spain has denied the United States permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to carry out strikes against Iran, as Madrid intensified its criticism, describing the “military intervention as unjustified and dangerous.”
Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, clearly condemned the “unilateral military action” by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, warning that it contributes to “a more hostile and insecure international order.”
The criticism was reinforced by his government’s refusal to allow the U.S. to use the bases in Rota and Morón for ongoing strikes against Iran.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, said on Monday that while the government wants “democracy, freedom, and fundamental rights for the Iranian people,” it will under no circumstances permit its bases to be used in continuing military actions.
“I want to be very clear and very precise,” he told Telecinco. “The bases are not being used – nor will they be used – for anything that is not in agreement [with the U.S.], nor for anything that is not covered by the UN Charter.”
Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that neither base had been used in the American military operation.
“There is an agreement with the U.S. regarding these bases, but our understanding of the agreement is that operations must comply with international legal frameworks and that there must be international support for them,” she told reporters.
Maps compiled by the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that 15 U.S. aircraft departed from Rota and Morón after the U.S. and Israel began their strikes over the weekend. At least seven of the aircraft were shown landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
