BRUSSELS

A spokesperson for the European Commission told Anadolu on Thursday that if the US president "unfairly" targeted Spanish imports with additional tariffs or other discriminatory trade measures, it would represent a "very serious escalation" in transatlantic ties and prompt a "strong and swift" response from the EU.

The remarks followed Donald Trump's threat of a complete trade embargo on Madrid after the Spanish government denied the US military permission to use its domestic bases for operations against Iran.

Since Saturday, Israel and the US have carried out a large-scale offensive against Iran, which has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Gulf countries hosting US military facilities.

The spokesperson stressed that while Washington's recent comments on Spain were so far limited to threats, any move to impose extra tariff treatment on Spanish goods would trigger a coordinated European reaction.

"If President Trump was to unfairly target Spanish imports into the US for extra tariff treatment or whatever, then that would be considered a very serious escalation, and I think you would certainly see a strong and swift response from the EU side," the official stressed.

The spokesperson emphasized that the EU strives to remain calm and coordinated in the face of repeated threats from Washington, reminding that previous instances, including Trump's comments on countries stationing troops in Greenland, demonstrated the effectiveness of a unified European response.

"But we do have strong tools. Our preference is to not have to use them, but if we have to, we will, and that is our general approach to dealing with President Trump and these types of threats," the spokesperson added.