The Spanish government has reaffirmed its decision to prohibit the transfer of weapons and military equipment to Israel through its two key military bases in the southwest of the country—Rota and Morón. The move, first implemented earlier this year, was confirmed on Monday, according to El País, which cited sources involved in joint military coordination between Spain and the United States.
BREAKING:
Spain bans all U.S. planes and ships carrying weapons for Israel from using its bases.
Every country should do the same : cut off the weapons fueling Israel’s holocaust in Gaza!
🇪🇸 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/omTmjkKxg1
— sarah (@sahouraxo) September 29, 2025
The Rota naval base, situated near the city of Cádiz on Spain’s Atlantic coast, and the Morón airbase, located close to Seville, are strategic hubs for U.S. military operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa.
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While both installations fall under Spanish sovereignty, they are heavily used by U.S. forces under bilateral defense agreements. Unlike other NATO allies, American pilots are granted significant operational freedom at Rota, although final authority rests with Spanish commanders.
Spanish officials stressed that the bases remain under national control and cannot serve as open conduits for arms shipments. “Rota and Morón are not a sieve,” sources told El País. “They are Spanish sovereign bases, under the command of Spanish officers, and everything that happens there must be authorised by Spanish authorities.”
The issue came to the fore earlier this year when the U.S. deployed six F-35 fighter jets to Israel. To avoid violating Spain’s restrictions, Washington rerouted the aircraft via Portugal’s Lajes Air Base on the Azores islands before sending them through the Strait of Gibraltar.
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Madrid’s stance reflects its broader policy of aligning military cooperation with humanitarian and diplomatic considerations. Spain has been outspoken in calling for restraint in Gaza and has joined other European countries in pressing for a ceasefire and greater accountability over arms transfers. Analysts note that the continued restrictions highlight Spain’s determination to assert sovereignty over its bases and avoid entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
With additional input by GVS Intl desk