Middle East war: Spanish PM takes on Trump after threat to cut trade ties

2026-03-05 - 04:18

•87 killed as US sinks Iran’s ship headed back from India after Naval exercise •US Embassy cancels visa appointments By Nkiru Nnorom & Favour Ulebor with Agency report Spanish Prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has responded to President Donald Trump of the United State’s threat to cut off all trade with Spain over his government’s refusal to facilitate the US’s ongoing attacks against Iran, comparing the growing conflict in the Middle East to playing Russian gambling with the destiny of millions. This came as no fewer than 87 people were killed after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. Many are still reported missing. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Abuja, has cancelled all visa appointments scheduled for yesterday, citing a high potential for protests in Abuja amid escalating hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran. Sánchez, who has been one of the most vociferous European critics of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, said his government’s position on the widening instability could be summed up in three words: “No to war.” In a section of the speech that appeared to directly address Trump’s threats to end all trade with Spain, the prime minister said his country would not be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to his country’s values and interests “simply out of fear of reprisals from someone.” Trump had on Tuesday railed against Madrid for refusing the US permission to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain to continue its attacks in Iran. “Spain has been terrible,” Trump said during a meeting with the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, adding that he had told the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, to cut off all dealings with the European country. In his address, yesterday, Sánchez called on the US, Israel and Iran to stop their war before it was too late, saying: “You can’t respond to one illegality with another because that’s how humanity’s great disasters begin. “You can’t play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions. Nobody knows for sure what will happen now. Even the objectives of those who launched the first attack are unclear. But, we must be prepared, as the proponents say, for the possibility that this will be a long war, with numerous casualties and, therefore, with serious economic consequences on a global scale.” He pointedly invoked the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was supported by his conservative predecessor José María Aznar, as a warning of the looming dangers. Sánchez said that while that war ostensibly had been intended to eliminate Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, to bring democracy, and to guarantee global security, it had instead “unleashed the greatest wave of insecurity our continent has suffered since the fall of the Berlin Wall.” Sánchez said a government’s prime responsibility was to protect and improve the lives of its citizens, and not to use geopolitics to cynical ends or to profit from war. “It is absolutely unacceptable that those leaders who are incapable of fulfilling this duty use the smokescreen of war to hide their failure and, in the process, line the pockets of a select few, the same ones as always; the only ones who profit when the world stops building hospitals and starts building missiles,” he said. During his meeting with Merz, Trump criticised Spain once again for refusing to accept NATO’s proposal for member states to increase their defence spending to five percent of their GDP. The US president also launched a deeply personal attack on the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, over his refusal to let the US use British bases for the strikes, telling reporters: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” 87 killed as US sinks Iran ship headed back from India after Naval exercise The warship, IRIS Dena, according to news agency, AFP, had participated in a naval exercise in India just weeks ago. IRIS Dena, a Moudge class frigate, also came to India in 2024, to participate in the multilateral naval exercise MILAN, the same exercise’s 2026 edition from where it sailed home today when the US submarine attacked it. A Sri Lankan Navy official said they have collected 87 bodies, and a search is still on for the others who are still missing. Sri Lanka is already dealing with some 32 survivors and 61 sailors are still missing, according to the police and navy, after the frigate IRIS Dena sank off Sri Lanka’s coast. This comes on a day it was reported that the CIA was planning to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting uprising in Iran. Meanwhile, a ceremony commemorating Iran’s late leader supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran has been postponed due to logistic problem. While the US has not confirmed the number of dead, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the submarine strike and touted it as evidence of America’s global reach in its war on Iran. “An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo,” Hegseth told reporters. The US Department of War released a black and white video of what looked like a submarine periscope and an explosion in the distance. The Indian Navy in a statement on February 16, had said that as one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, MILAN 2026 would bring together navies from across the globe to strengthen interoperability, maritime domain awareness, and collective response capabilities. The harbour and sea phases of the exercise focussed on complex maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, air defence, search and rescue, etc. Nothing is known whether the US submarine had been tailing or observing the Iranian warship as it came to India to participate in MILAN 2026. US Embassy cancels visa appointments It also advised American citizens in Abuja to remain indoors, over a high likelihood of protests over the killing of Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US and Israel bombing of Tehran, Iran. Several other high-ranking Iranian officials were also said to have been killed in the strikes, triggering swift retaliation from Tehran. Angered by the development, Iran launched multiple missiles targeting U.S. bases in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, vowing to avenge the death of its Supreme Leader and other regime officials. The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes over the weekend, has shown no sign of abating as it entered its fifth day. In a security alert posted on its official X page, yesterday, the Embassy said there was a high potential for protest in Abuja. It said: “Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Applicants will be contacted with information on how to reschedule. Please monitor our website and social media channels for further updates.” The embassy further warned of “potential demonstrations” in the Federal Capital Territory, calling on American citizens to remain indoors. “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja informs U.S. citizens that there is a high potential for protests in Abuja March 4, 2026, due to the current conflict with Iran. “Previous protests by some groups have resulted in violent clashes between the groups and Nigerian security forces. The Embassy strongly recommends that all U.S. citizens in Abuja remain in their residences on March 4.” The mission urged Americans to avoid protest areas and crowds, monitor local media, stay alert in public places, carry proper identification, keep phones charged, and vary travel routes where necessary. Despite the warning, the Embassy said its Consular Section in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos remain open.