— We do not accept the warnings and we are completely calm because we are one of the countries that best fulfill their obligations towards NATO, said the minister, quoted by the Cadena SER radio website.
Donald Trump will withdraw troops from Spain?
Earlier, government sources cited by the EFE agency also emphasized that Spain is a reliable partner and always fulfills its obligations.
Trump, asked by reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday whether he was also considering withdrawing troops from Italy and Spain, replied: “Yes, probably.” Why not?
“Italy is not helping us and Spain is terrible, absolutely terrible,” he added. He repeated his reservations about these countries the next day.
The threats against Spain concern the dispute over the use of bases during the attack on Iran and allegations of too low defense spending. The conflict between Washington and Madrid has been going on for months.
Madrid refuses to support the conflict with Iran
Spain says the US and Israel's war on Iran, which began on February 28, is illegal under international law. Pedro Sanchez's government did not agree to use bases in Andalusia during an attack on Iran, although the US has been using them for decades. In addition, the airspace was closed to aircraft involved in operations in the Middle East.
The US president also accuses the authorities in Madrid of too low defense spending. He previously suggested that NATO should consider excluding Spain from the Alliance, and threatened the country with breaking off trade relations.
On Wednesday, the American leader also announced that the Americans were considering reducing the number of soldiers stationed in Germany, and a decision on this matter was to be made soon.
“Such messages are no longer necessary,” Robles said on Friday. According to her, US threats “are unjustified and have no legal basis.”
Consequences of possible withdrawal of troops
The Infobae portal noted that these three European countries are of strategic importance for the American army, and if Trump's threat were to be implemented, it would be necessary to transfer about 50,000 soldiers. In Spain alone, at the Rota and Morón installations in Andalusia, over 3,800 American soldiers and approximately 500 civilians are stationed.
At the end of April, Reuters reported that an internal Pentagon e-mail presented proposals to punish NATO allies who – according to the ministry – did not support US actions in the war with Iran. Among the measures considered were the suspension of Spain's membership of the Alliance and a re-examination of the US position on British claims to the Falkland Islands.
At the time, Sanchez said he would only refer to official documents, not emails.
