TENSIONS OVER IRAN WITHIN NATO

The US-Israel/Iran conflict in the Middle East, which has been ongoing for more than two months, has yet to be concluded. Throughout the conflict, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly requested aid and support from NATO allies. However, these requests have not materialized as Trump desired, and most allies have left them unanswered.

Some countries condemned the war, while others maintained silence and neutrality. However, Spain's stance drew significant criticism. Spanish President Pedro Sanchez stated that the war was a grave mistake and a threat to world peace. He also added that the war was completely illegal and a violation of international law. Sanchez said that Spain supported "full cooperation with its allies, but within the framework of international law." As these statements indicate, Spain refused to allow the use of its air bases for attacks against Iran. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated on Monday, March 2nd, that "The bases are not and will not be used for any purpose outside the [Defense Cooperation] agreement. They will also not be used for any activity that does not comply with United Nations resolutions." Following news that the US might suspend Spain's membership due to its stance on the Iran war, NATO clarified that it has no procedures for suspending or expelling member states. Some countries, such as Germany, also conveyed their views on the matter through their spokespersons. A German government spokesperson stated that Spain's membership was not being questioned. "Spain is a NATO member. I see no reason for that to change," the spokesperson said at a regular press conference in Berlin.

In response to these attitudes, Trump announced that his country would suspend all trade with Spain. Making accusatory statements against Spain, Trump said, "We're going to suspend all trade. We don't want to have anything to do with Spain." However, it should not be forgotten that Spain plays an important role in the defense of European territories. Therefore, Spain's presence in NATO is of great importance. At the same time, Spain is one of the EU's major export powers and a reliable trading partner for 195 countries.

We see that some countries, like Turkey, support Spain's stance, while others, like the UK, remain silent. Many experts have commented on the issue. Martin Merchan, however, believes that "in a period when US hegemony is being reshaped and international relations are becoming more diversified, Spain may distance itself from the US to some extent, but this does not mean a complete break from the Atlantic Alliance."

   REFERENCES:

- https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cze00113095o