Kathmandu. The European Commission has said the EU is ready to protect its interests and the security and economic interests of its member state after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain if he refused to use US bases to attack Iran.

“We stand in solidarity with all member states and citizens and stand ready to act to protect EU interests through our common trade policy if necessary,” commission spokesman Olof Gil said in a statement. ”

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off trade with Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government refused to allow the use of the Rota naval base and Moron Air Base and its refusal to increase defense spending for NATO.

“The European Commission expects full honour of the commitments of last year’s major trade deal with the United States,” Gill said. We will continue to advocate for maintaining a stable, predictable, and mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship in the best interest of both sides. ”

At the same time, the Commission said that it is more important than ever to protect such relations in a time of global disruption.

Sánchez’s leftist government has strongly opposed Israel’s war on Gaza and a military crackdown on the kidnapping and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.