Spain Bans US Ship And Plane Transits Carrying Weapons To Israel

JAKARTA - Spain on Monday banned transits of US military aircraft and ships carrying weapons, ammunition, or equipment aimed at Israel through its bases in Rota (Cadiz) and the Moron de la Frontera (Sevilla), as confirmed by sources familiar with the US-Spain Joint Committee's functions.

"Rota and Moron are not backdoors," the source said, as reported by Anadolu from El Pais on September 30.

The source who asked not to be named emphasized that both of them remain the sovereign Spanish base under the command of Spain and all activities require Madrid's permission.

The move comes as Washington continues to supply most of the weapons used by Israel in its attacks on Gaza, where more than 66,000 people have died.

Spanish officials remain ambiguous in their public statements, insisting Spain is obliged to honor its bilateral defense agreement with the US, but also clarify controversial shipments, such as weapons aimed at Israel, including in restrictions.

Although Spain did not directly inspect US cargo, officials argue hiding such transfers would undermine inter-selety trust.

They also showed the magnitude of the volume of arms shipments to Israel made the concealment impractical.

One example quoted was the delivery of six F-35 fighter jets to Israel earlier this year, which avoided a Spanish base and instead stopped in Azores before crossing the Gibraltar Strait.

To note, based on the 1988 defense cooperation agreement, which has been amended several times, US troops can operate from a Spanish base on certain conditions.

Although permanently stationed US aircraft in Spain enjoy freedom of movement, all other aircraft must seek prior authorization.

Article 25 of the agreement allows quarterly authorization for logistical support flights but explicitly excludes missions carrying "controversial cargo or passenger" for Spain, requiring case-by-case approval.

Operational procedures in 2011 are further tightening the rules, requiring disclosure of the origin of flights, destinations, and detailed descriptions of mission and cargo objectives.

This restriction also applies to naval operations, where visits to ports should be requested at least five days earlier.

Although Spain did not ask about standard onboard weapons due to terms of the Cold War era, nuclear weapons have remained banned under Spanish law since the 1986 NATO referendum.

Earlier this month, the US State Department cited nine steps announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's administration to increase pressure on Israel as "very concerning", including Spain's resistance to flights transporting defense materials to the country.

US officials warned such restrictions "potentially limit American military operations."

Despite these complaints, Spanish officials underlined Madrid has the right to refuse authorization for shipments deemed politically sensitive.