Germany backs Spain after Trump trade threats, declaring it “will not allow itself to be divided” as tensions escalate between Washington and Madrid over the US-Israel war on Iran.
The statement from Berlin marks a notable shift in tone and signals that Europe’s largest economy is prepared to publicly align with Spain amid mounting pressure from the White House.
The dispute intensified after US president Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with Spain in response to Madrid’s refusal to back the American-Israeli military campaign.
Trump had criticised Spain for declining to allow its military bases to be used in strikes linked to the Iran conflict, framing the disagreement as both a security and economic issue.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul responded with a firm pledge of solidarity, stating that Spain could rely on Germany and the wider European Union if confronted with new US trade barriers.
“We will not allow ourselves to be divided; we stand firmly together,” he said, reinforcing the message that economic coercion against one EU member would be treated as pressure against the bloc as a whole.
The controversy has prompted renewed calls within Brussels to consider activating the EU Anti-Coercion Instrument, a trade defence tool designed to counter economic intimidation by third countries.
Advocates argue that if Washington were to impose country-specific tariffs or suspend trade with Spain, the European Commission should respond collectively.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed that trade policy falls under EU competence and expressed hope that existing trade agreements with the United States would be respected.
Internal market commissioner Stéphane Séjourné echoed that sentiment, warning that any threat against a member state amounts to a threat against the entire Union.
Madrid, for its part, has maintained a consistent Spain Iran war stance, insisting that it cannot support unilateral military action lacking international legal backing. Prime minister Pedro Sánchez has reaffirmed that Spain’s position remains unchanged despite public criticism from Washington.
Defence minister Margarita Robles rejected claims by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt that Spain had shifted its approach, stating that authorisation for the use of Spanish bases such as Morón and Rota would not be granted under the current circumstances.
Even as it distances itself from the offensive, Spain has sought to underline its commitment to European security. A Spanish frigate has been deployed to support allied naval operations in the Mediterranean, providing air defence capabilities and remaining on standby to assist in evacuations if required. The move reflects broader European efforts to reinforce the region amid fears of further escalation.
The Nato response to the Iran conflict has also drawn scrutiny. Secretary general Mark Rutte described the interception of a ballistic missile aimed toward Turkey as “serious and absolutely condemnable,” though he indicated it did not automatically trigger Nato’s mutual defence clause.
Rutte welcomed recent remarks by French president Emmanuel Macron on nuclear deterrence, while emphasising that the United States remains the ultimate guarantor of European security under the nuclear umbrella.
Meanwhile, European evacuations from the Middle East have accelerated as governments work to bring home citizens stranded by the widening conflict. Germany organised repatriation flights for travellers caught in the region, prioritising vulnerable individuals.
The evacuations have sparked domestic debates in several EU countries about preparedness, consular coordination and the adequacy of travel advisories issued before hostilities intensified.
Energy markets have also reacted sharply. In Germany, fuel prices surged following the outbreak of hostilities, prompting economy minister Katherina Reiche to warn against price gouging and to signal close monitoring by cartel authorities.
The spike has reignited concerns that prolonged instability in the Gulf could push oil prices higher, indirectly benefiting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
As diplomatic and military manoeuvres unfold, Germany backs Spain after Trump trade threats in what many analysts see as a defining test of European unity.
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Whether the EU chooses to escalate through trade countermeasures or de-escalate through negotiation will shape not only transatlantic relations but also the credibility of the bloc’s pledge to stand together in the face of external pressure.
