Spain closes airspace to US military planes attacking Iran — NATO member blocks ally's war flights

Spain's Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on March 30 that Spain had closed its airspace to US military planes involved in attacks on Iran. 'We don't authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran,' she told reporters in Madrid. El Pais first reported the closure, citing military sources. The decision goes a step beyond Spain's earlier denial of use of jointly-operated military bases. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo explained: 'This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law.' The airspace closure forces US military planes to bypass Spain — a NATO member and key transatlantic air corridor — when flying to and from targets in the Middle East. Emergency situations are excluded from the restriction. Spain's action marks the most significant intra-NATO friction of the conflict, as a NATO ally formally blocks a partner's active military operations using national airspace law. Other European NATO members have been watching Spain's moves closely.