Spain denies White House claims that caving in to Trump's trade threat

Spain has denied the White House's claims that it has caved in to Donald Trump's trade threat, as Europe continues to push back against supporting the US' war with Iran. 

Last night, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Spain had finally agreed to allow the US to use joint military bases in the country to support its offensive campaign against Iran. 

She said: 'With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president's message yesterday loud and clear, and it's my understanding, over the past several hours, they've agreed to cooperate with the US military.'

But Spain's foreign minister 'categorically' denied these claims. 

Jose Manuel Albares told the Hora25 radio programme: 'Not a single comma has changed, and I have no idea whatsoever what they might be referring to.'

Earlier this week, Trump threatened to end US trade with Spain after Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez refused to allow the US to use joint military bases in the south of the country in its attacks on Iran.

He also threatened to simply 'fly in and use it', adding: 'Nobody's going to tell us not to use it, but we don't have to.'

Yesterday, Sanchez accused Trump of playing 'Russian roulette' with millions of lives by carrying out airstrikes in Iran. 

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Calling the US-Israeli strikes on Iran an 'unjustifiable' and 'dangerous' military intervention, Sanchez  said: 'The position of the government of Spain can be summarised in four words - No to the war.'

Despite this, Spain today said it will send its most advanced frigate to protect Cyprus after a drone strike on a British base on the Mediterranean island sucked it into the Middle East war. 

The 'Cristobal Colon' will join French aircraft carrier 'Charles de Gaulle' and Greek navy ships to 'offer protection and aerial defence' and 'support any evacuation of civilians', the defence ministry said in a statement. 

It is unclear how Trump would cut off trade with Spain, given that Spain is under the umbrella of the European Union. The EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member countries.

'If the US administration wishes to review the trade agreement, it must do so respecting the autonomy of private companies, international law, and bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States,' a spokesperson from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's office said Tuesday.

And despite the trade threat, fellow European leader Emmanuel Macron, who leads France, joined Sanchez in condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran, branding them illegal. 

In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Emmanuel Macron declared the attacks were 'outside the bounds of international law'. 

The French leader also said he had ordered his country's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and fleet to the Mediterranean and a frigate to Cyprus to ramp up military support in the region. 

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He added that Rafale fighter jets, air defence systems and airborne radar systems have been deployed over the Middle East.

'We will continue this effort as much as necessary,' he added. 

The French president also cited a strike on a British air force base in Cyprus on Monday, saying: 'This requires our support. That is why I have decided to send additional air-defence assets there as well, along with a French frigate, the Languedoc.' 

Macron also insisted that all his actions were 'strictly defensive in nature' and intended to protect allies and restore peace. 

France, along with Germany and the UK are pushing for a ceasefire and has renewed diplomatic negotiations in the region, he added.  

Despite this, France today said that American aircraft have been authorised to appear at French bases in the Middle East on a 'temporary basis.'

A spokesperson told AFP: 'As part of our relations with the United States, the presence of their aircraft has been temporarily authorised at our bases. 

'These aircraft contribute to the protection of our partners in the Gulf.'

Macron's address also came as Trump welcomed Germany's Friedrich Merz to the White House. 

Trump praised Germany for 'helping out' by allowing the US to access certain bases, with Merz saying his government and Trump shared a desire to topple Iran's current regime. 

The American president also lambasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his reluctance to join the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,' Trump said.