President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will end all trade with Spain after the Spanish government refused to allow U.S. forces to use its military bases to support strikes against Iran.

Madrid denied U.S. access to its bases, saying they must “operate within the framework of international law.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the decision left him no choice.

“Spain has been terrible,” Trump said. “I told Scott [Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain… Spain has absolutely nothing that we need, other than great people. They have great people, but they don’t have great leadership.”

Trump also cited Spain’s refusal to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, a target he has pushed for all members of NATO.

Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, condemned the strikes on Iran and called for “immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law.”

The U.S. currently runs a trade surplus with Spain, exporting roughly $26 billion in goods annually. The Rota and Morón air bases — used by U.S. forces since the 1950s under bilateral defense agreements — were central to the dispute after Spanish officials said the operations violated existing legal frameworks.

The decision comes amid Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s leadership and nuclear infrastructure, which has already resulted in multiple American casualties following Iranian retaliatory strikes in Kuwait.