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Europe · Geopolitics · Iran War · US Military
European allies are deeply divided over the United States' request to use its extensive network of approximately 50 military bases across the continent for ongoing strikes in Iran, with the UK reversing its initial refusal while Spain firmly banned base usage, prompting US withdrawal of assets.
Tens of thousands of US troops, numbering nearly 84,000 in early 2025 according to the US European Command, are stationed across Europe, a presence dating back to World War II. The current conflict, triggered by US-Israeli strikes killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent Iranian retaliation, has transformed military cooperation into a contentious political issue.
While France and Germany offered political backing, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially refused US requests, drawing an angry reaction from President Donald Trump before reversing course. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, however, banned the use of Spanish bases, calling the war "senseless" and prompting the Pentagon to withdraw refuelling aircraft.
EU industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné warned that any US economic retaliation against Spain would be a threat against the entire European Union. European leaders, including European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have called for maximum restraint, while France and Greece have reinforced defenses in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Europe's US Base Divisions Test Alliance(current)
