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On Tuesday, Spain made the significant decision to permanently withdraw its ambassador from Israel, citing disapproval of the joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran. This move intensifies the already strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The Spanish government’s official gazette announced the termination of the ambassador’s duties, stating that the embassy in Tel Aviv will now be overseen by a chargé d’affaires for an unspecified duration.
The initial recall of the ambassador occurred last September after Spain faced criticism from Israel for blocking the passage of weapons-laden aircraft and ships destined for Israel through Spanish ports and airspace. At the time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar labeled Spain’s actions as antisemitic.
In response to a question about Spain’s cooperation with the United States, President Donald Trump remarked on Wednesday, “No, they’re not. I think they’re not cooperating at all.”
In the midst of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, a scene from Tehran on March 4, 2026, shows people walking by buildings damaged by a strike on a police station. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)
“Spain, I think they’ve been very bad,” the president said. “Very bad. Not good at all. We may cut off trade with Spain.”
“I don’t know what Spain is doing,” Trump continued. “They’ve been very bad to NATO. They get protected, they don’t want to pay their fair share. And they’ve been that way for many years.”
Trump added that the people of Spain “are fantastic,” whereas the leadership is “not so good.”
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Wednesday criticized Spain’s decision to recall its ambassador to Israel permanently as “hard for me to absorb.”
“Spain is a member of NATO, and the United States and Israel are in joint operations against the Iranian regime who openly calls for the destruction of the Jewish State, attacks against the West, and seeks to purify Islam in its own image,” Graham wrote on X.
Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel, the latest flare-up in the rocky diplomatic relationship between the two countries in recent years. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)
“The religious Nazi regime in Iran is the problem, not the Jewish State,” the senator continued. “I hope Spain’s actions will not encourage the tyrannical, fanatical regime in Iran — that abuses its own people — to hang on.”
Relations between Spain and Israel have deteriorated sharply since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks.
Israel also downgraded its diplomatic presence in Spain last May after Spain recognized a Palestinian state, placing its own embassy in Madrid under a chargé d’affaires.
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