US banned from using Spanish bases to transport weapons to Israel

Spain has banned the US from using its military bases to transport weapons to Israel, in protest of the ongoing Gaza conflict. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized the situation, stating that Israel is “exterminating a ‘defenceless people’” in the region. Spain previously implemented an arms embargo against Israel this month and has now extended it to stop any weapons shipments via US bases.

As Sanchez formalized the embargo, he faced pressure to take a tougher stance against Israel. The US has expressed concerns that this decision could “embolden terrorists” and affect military operations in Spain. Spain had imported military equipment from Israel worth at least €54 million since October 2023, which it may now limit.