Macron Gives Support to Spain After Trump Threatens to Break Trade

JAKARTA - French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to express his solidarity and support following threats to break the US trade agreement with Spain, according to a report by BFMTV television station, citing the Elysee Palace.

On Tuesday (3/3), US President Donald Trump said his party would end all trade with Spain because Spain did not allow the US to use its military base to attack Iran, as well as because of its reluctance to increase defense spending.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday (4/3) that the Spanish government began cooperating with the US "in the last few hours" after initially refusing to allow the US military to use their military bases.

However, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez denied the claim and said his government's position had not changed.

On Saturday (28/2), the US and Israel launched a series of attacks on targets inside Iran, including in Tehran, with a number of reported civilian casualties and damage.

Iranian state television confirmed the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then responded to the attack with missile strikes on Israeli territory and on a number of US military facilities in the Middle East.