Despite the Trump-Sánchez clash, the U.S. threat is commercial, not military.
The anti-Trump stance of the Pedro Sánchez government has turned contacts between the national executive and the U.S. into a series of diplomatic mishaps, snubs, and public recriminations by Donald Trump. However, the portrayal of both leaders as individuals with opposing ideologies who are not interested in bridging their differences affects many interests but one: Defense.
The United States needs Spain, and vice versa. That's why Donald Trump's response to the ban on using the Rota and Morón bases for a unilateral attack on Iran was not military in nature. Instead, the Republican president threatened economically, mentioning cutting trade relations. No military action was mentioned.
Trump's ambassador to Spain, Benjamin León, arrived in Spain two weeks ago. Upon arrival, he went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present his credentials. There, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, held the first meeting with him. The next day, he presented his credentials to the King, a necessary step to operate as the head of the mission in Spain. The following week, his first meeting with the government was scheduled. The chosen one? The Ministry of Defense. León will meet with Margarita Robles today in their first contact, arranged before the U.S. attack on Iran and the U.S. president's statements against Sánchez on Tuesday.
"Defense relations are above political interests, both countries are clear on that, including not only bases, exercises, and movements but also intelligence matters," explains a high-level source to this newspaper. In fact, the Spanish Armed Forces will focus on their presence in the United States on July 4, during the commemoration of the 250 years of American independence.
The training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano will make a special stop in New York to participate in the celebrations. Additionally, the expeditionary group Dédalo, composed of the aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, two frigates, and a combat supply ship, will also be present. The best of the Navy, which besides participating in the celebrations, will take part in the Fleetex exercise off the U.S. coasts. This will require the Dédalo to be deployed for several weeks in the Atlantic waters.
Another reason supporting the statement that Defense is above political issues also appears in naval matters. Throughout this year, a new U.S. destroyer is expected to arrive in Rota, the sixth ship of this type in Spanish bases as part of the deployment in the Mediterranean. Although its presence aims to strengthen the NATO missile defense shield, the United States can also use these ships for their own purposes. In fact, two of them are currently providing missile defense support to the U.S. in the Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
Yesterday, several American planes took off and landed in Rota and Morón. They did not violate the Spanish veto on the use of Spanish bases in the Middle East offensive, which does not block U.S. capabilities in Cádiz. "Many times, they notify Spain of the movement to another base, make a stopover there, and then continue to another destination. It's a way to avoid having to request authorization for unilateral operations," explains a source from the Air Force to EL MUNDO. This is what the tanker aircraft with registration RCH284 did, which was flying over Saudi Arabia from Turkey at the time of this edition's closure. On Monday and Tuesday, a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy took off from Morón to an unknown destination. Finally, a Hercules aircraft, coming from Sigonella (Italy), arrived at the base yesterday.
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