<
https://theconversation.com/why-the-iran-war-is-breaking-the-us-european-strategic-alliance-281975>
"Days after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, 2026, Spanish
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denied American forces the use of the Naval
Station Rota and the Morón Air Base – installations that had hosted U.S. troops
for more than 70 years.
“We are a sovereign country that does not wish to take part in illegal wars,”
Sánchez said. U.S. President Donald Trump responded by threatening a full trade
embargo against Spain.
Weeks later, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – Trump’s closest European
ally and the only EU head of government invited to his second inauguration –
broke publicly with Washington.
“When we don’t agree, we must say it,” she said. “And this time, we do not
agree.” Rome then refused to let U.S. bombers refuel at a base in southern
Italy.
These are not minor diplomatic frictions. As a scholar of alliance politics and
nuclear security, I see something much larger than a tactical disagreement. The
Iran war’s most consequential casualty may not be in Tehran. It may be American
credibility as an ally, and with it, the trans-Atlantic alliance itself."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
