Some European Leaders Are Challenging Trump

 

“LONDON -- For the past year, most European leaders took pains not to offend President Trump. The Iran conflict has ended that honeymoon -- for at least two leaders.

 

The leaders of Britain and Spain ratcheted up their war of words with the president on Wednesday, spelling out why they didn't back the U.S. attack on Iran, calling it both illegal and unwise.

 

"We can't play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions of people," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. "The powers involved in this conflict should immediately stop the hostilities."

 

Trump had threatened to halt all trade with Spain after it blocked the U.S. from using its bases to launch the Iran strikes. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Spain had agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.

 

Asked if Spain was now cooperating, Alexandra Gil, a government spokeswoman, said: "False."

 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told lawmakers that the U.K. wasn't going to join a war unless it was legal and there "was a viable, thought-through plan." He has criticized the conflict for lacking an endgame, saying he didn't think regime change could come from an air war, and referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in a quagmire.

 

Starmer and Trump have traded barbs in recent days. The U.S. leader said he was disappointed that Starmer didn't back the U.S. plan, and took a few days before allowing the U.S. to launch "defensive" strikes from U.K. bases.

 

"This is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with," Trump said on Tuesday, contrasting Starmer with the famed British wartime leader.

 

Ever since Trump began his second term, Europe has sought to mollify him. They didn't get angry when Trump stopped military and financial aid for Ukraine. They didn't retaliate for his unilateral tariffs. And they generally haven't taken the bait when Trump or other administration officials have criticized Europe.

 

The reason: Europe relies on the U.S. for its security in the face of Russia, as a major source of energy, and as the largest market for European exports.

 

The first signs of European resistance came concerning Greenland, when Europeans together pushed back against Trump's push to annex the Danish territory.

 

Some major European countries, such as Germany, are sticking by the don't-anger-Trump playbook. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the U.S. and Israeli attacks "good news for Iran, and good news for the world," adding, "this isn't the moment to lecture our partners."

 

French President Emmanuel Macron said the attack wasn't in accordance with international law. Others, such as Ireland and Norway, have been more outspoken.

 

That Spain's Socialist leader broke ranks is less surprising; the Spanish have resisted Trump's calls for more military spending and have been lukewarm on supporting Ukraine. "We are not going to be accomplices in something that is bad for the world simply out of fear for somebody's reprisals," Sanchez said of Iran.” [1]

 

1. World News: Some European Leaders Are Challenging Trump. Luhnow, David; Colchester, Max; Bertrand, Benoit.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 05 Mar 2026: A7.