Over spring break, I went to Spain for a week and a half with a dozen of my former middle school classmates. It was a significant time to visit the country; Spain is currently embroiled in political tensions with the United States around the U.S.’s war on Iran and the Israeli war on Palestine. American soft power is definitely still strong in Spain. I saw T–shirts in Spanish stores sporting nonsense slogans in English, and popular fashion seemed to follow American trends. I witnessed strong evidence, however, that the U.S.’s military and political influence on the country is weakening.
We visited various locations throughout Spain, but spent the most time in homestays in Cádiz, a city on the Mediterranean in the Andalucia region. In Cádiz, the war was a constant presence. From the historic San Sebastián fortress we could see American battleships patrolling the Mediterranean. Walking through the streets I saw anti–war and anti–U.S. graffiti, as well as Palestinian flags hanging from balconies.
The abundance of political graffiti makes sense. Cádiz is home to Naval Station Rota, a joint Spanish–U.S. naval base, which up until recently hosted the largest concentration of American military personnel in Spain. Also located in Andalucia is Morón Air Base, where U.S. aircraft are stationed. On the drive from the Cádiz train station, my classmate Julian Schild’s host pointed out Rota to him, and explained that the American presence there was quite unpopular.
“[My host] said that protests against the war on Iran were being organized [at the base], and he also said that sentiment towards U.S. soldiers was very poor at the moment,” said Schild. “He told me that most of the people in Cádiz thought the American soldiers were mindlessly following orders and not worthy of respect.”
More than half of the Spanish population is against the war in Iran, which was reflected in conversations I had. Over lunch one day, the grandmother who I was staying with brought up the war. She complained about the Donald Trump regime and the American soldiers stationed in Spain, and criticized the war on Iran. She was not the only person to directly express these views to us; several of my classmates described similar interactions with their hosts.
“One night, I was watching TV with my host family, and the news was showing videos of the U.S. bombing Iran, along with commentary about Trump’s agenda,” said Siiri Dubrawsky, my former classmate and current Saint Mary’s Academy junior. “In reaction, my host mom shook her head, covered her eyes and seemed really upset.”
The Spanish government has taken actions in line with public opinion. The government–particularly president Pedro Sanchez–has been at the forefront of European resistance to the genocide in Gaza, and has continued to demonstrate a political backbone in its handling of the Iran war. Shortly before we left for Spain, the Spanish government denied the U.S. access to NAVSTA Rota and Morón, and followed up by banning the U.S from Spanish airspace.
This is a significant step because of Spain’s Mediterranean location; the bases are convenient stops on the way to the Middle East. After the ban, flight trackers show that a number of U.S. aircraft relocated from Morón to Germany, a U.S. ally. Spain’s actions aren’t just performative, they have an actual impact on the war, albeit a small one.
The U.S. has responded by threatening a trade embargo, but Spain has continued undeterred, stating its intent to resist an unjust war. The nation has also removed its embassy in Israel and reopened its embassy in Tehran, stating a commitment to fostering peace through diplomatic negotiation. For the most part, the Spanish government has been alone in its actions. Many countries have gingerly condemned U.S. and Israeli actions, but few have actually taken steps to resist them. The United Kingdom initially said it wouldn’t allow the U.S. to use its air bases, but backed down almost immediately.
The U.S. has always been a major player in world hegemony, and even before Trump’s terms it has been unwise to go against it. Spain’s defiance is a rejection of that U.S.–Centric international order. While it is by no means perfect, Spain’s government is an example to the world of courage and listening to the people they govern. The Iran war and the genocide in Gaza are morally wrong and internationally unpopular; the rest of the world should take a page out of Spain’s book and stand up.
