Since the beginning of the Middle East conflict, when the United States and Israel jointly attacked several locations in Iran on February 28, President Donald Trump has faced numerous insults in his efforts to call for a joint effort to defeat Tehran.
From Spain rejecting Donald Trump’s request to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran, to several Washington allies rejecting his call to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, almost everyone he spoke to denied any involvement in a war with Iran.
It finally got to the point where Donald Trump resorted to threatening them.
Spain Says No to Use of Military Bases, Trump Threatens to Stop Trade
Spain criticized the US and Israel’s “unilateral military action” against Iran in the early days of the conflict and made it clear to the US that Madrid would not allow the US military to use its bases to target Iranian territory.
Madrid also sought to attack the US for its “unauthorized and dangerous military intervention” in Iran.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares defiantly said: “I want to be very clear and clear. The bases are not used – and will not be – for anything that is not in agreement (with the US) or for anything that is not included in the UN Charter.”
The reaction, of course, frustrated Donald Trump and threatened to stop all trade with Spain.
Read also | Who is Joe Kent? Trump’s counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war
“We don’t want anything to do with Spain. I could stop tomorrow – or today, even better – everything that has to do with Spain, all business that has to do with Spain,” he said.
The White House later claimed that Spain had changed its position, and Madrid also denied this.
Karoline Leavitt said, “As far as Spain is concerned, I think they heard the president’s message loud and clear yesterday, and my understanding is that in the last few hours they have agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.”
Spain’s reaction came quickly.
“The position of the Spanish government on the war in the Middle East … and the use of our bases has not changed at all,” the foreign minister said.
How Trump was treated by NATO allies
Donald Trump recently urged some nations to help the United States secure the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran in response to the strikes, and escort crude ships out of the passage.
The US president said he had asked about seven countries to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
“I demand that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their own territory. It would be nice if other countries guard it with us and we will help you. We will cooperate with them,” he said.
Read also | Israel says Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani killed in Iran: All about him
However, within hours it became clear that no one was ready to give in to his demands.
The United Kingdom, America’s closest military ally in Europe, was one of the first to reject Trump. “We will not be drawn into a wider war,” said Keir Starmer.
Germany, Spain and Italy were quick to insult the US president as they ruled out participating in any mission in the Persian Gulf, at least for now.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius downplayed Trump’s threats, saying: “This is not our war, we didn’t start it.”
Spain said no, Italy said sending warships into a war zone would be interpreted as joining the conflict.
Read also | Australia and Japan reject Trump’s Strait of Hormuz coalition plan
“Italy is not at war with anyone and sending warships into a war zone would mean entering a war,” said Deputy Prime Minister Salvini.
Meanwhile, France said it was ready to join the escort of the Hormuz ships once the situation “calms down”.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “Nato is an alliance for the defense of the alliance area. The United States did not consult us before this war, and therefore we believe that this is not a matter for NATO or the German government.”
Greece and Luxembourg also denied it.
Australia – not a NATO country – has also rejected calls for support.
Trump shows frustration
Just as it seemed difficult to get nations to help with the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said: “We’ve been protecting you for 40 years and you don’t want to get involved.
“We strongly urge other nations to engage with us and to engage quickly and with great enthusiasm,” he added.
He also threatened NATO, saying that “if there is no answer or if it is a negative answer, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO”. He did not address what the consequences would be.
