Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday that “loyal cooperation” should prevail over “confrontation” in relations with the United States after tensions over Madrid’s opposition to Washington’s use of its bases against Iran.
Relations should take place “with respect, in a spirit of loyal cooperation and on an equal footing”, he added during a joint news conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro in the southern Spanish city of Huelva.
Sanchez again criticised the strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling them an “extraordinary mistake” and “not in accordance with international law”.
“Between allied countries, it is good to help when the other is right, but also to tell them when they are wrong or make a mistake, as is the case here,” the Socialist leader added.
US President Donald Trump lashed out at Sanchez’s government on Tuesday, calling Spain a “terrible” ally and threatening to sever all trade with the country.
Sanchez responded the following day by doubling down on his opposition to the war and his refusal to let Washington use bases in southern Spain to strike Iran.
Trump further criticised Spain in an interview with the New York Post on Thursday, calling it “a loser”.
Sanchez, one of a dwindling number of leftist leaders in Europe, had already angered Trump with a series of other policy clashes.
He has refused to join NATO allies in a pledge to boost defence spending to five percent of GDP as demanded by Trump, and has fiercely criticised Israel’s war in Gaza.
Despite the tension, Sanchez said Friday he had “immense respect for the US presidency and great admiration for American society”.
