Merz Silent on Trump's Threats: Berlin's Cold War with Madrid

The Eclat in the Oval Office

It was a moment that shook the European structure: On March 3, 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stood next to US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office and remained silent as the latter described Spain as "terrible" and threatened the EU member with a complete cessation of all trade relations. Trump was angry because Madrid's socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had forbidden the US from using the Spanish military bases in Rota and Morón for attacks against Iran.

Merz remained silent – and then even doubled down. On the issue of NATO defense spending, the Chancellor publicly agreed with Trump: "We are trying to convince Spain to comply with the agreed NATO requirements," he said. Spain was the only member that did not want to accept the targets of 3.5 percent of GDP for the military and a further 1.5 percent for infrastructure. Standing up for an ally – a failure.

"Vassals Who Pay Homage to Trump"

The reaction from Madrid was not long in coming. Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz sharply criticized Merz in a Politico interview: "What Europe needs today is leadership – not vassals who pay homage to Trump." She accused the Chancellor of not being up to the historic moment and of abandoning an EU partner.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares drew a direct comparison to Merkel's and Scholz's foreign policy and stated: "Back then, there was a different, more pro-European mood." Spanish media openly described Merz as "cowardly," and editorials accused him of betraying European solidarity.

Diplomatic Silence Between Berlin and Madrid

Particularly explosive: Since the incident, Sánchez has ignored all of Merz's attempts to contact him. According to Der Spiegel, the Chancellor tried to reach the Spanish Prime Minister twice by telephone – most recently on March 6 – and also sent him two text messages. Not a single one of these messages received a reply.

Berlin's attempt at explanation sounds unconvincing: They had accidentally used an outdated telephone number. Madrid rejects this; a personal conversation between the two heads of government has not taken place to this day.

Consequences for the EU – A Rift at an Inopportune Time

The diplomatic ice age between the two largest economies in the Eurozone comes at a particularly unfavorable time. Germany and Spain are considered key partners for European coordination in energy policy – keyword Iberian gas pipeline network – as well as for the realignment of the common EU defense policy.

The Handelsblatt comments that the dispute is a "certificate of poverty" for Europe: While French President Emmanuel Macron demonstratively affirmed his solidarity with Spain and the EU Commission warned Trump against trade measures against a member, Berlin's position appears isolated.

Observers of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) warn that the rift could damage trust within the EU in the long term – and thus indirectly play into the hands of Trump, who has always been interested in a divided Union.

Merz Between Washington and Brussels

For Merz, the balancing act is becoming increasingly difficult. In the Oval Office, he earned Trump's explicit praise – the US President called him a "friend." But the price for this could be high: Germany's reputation as a reliable European partner is at stake. Critics from Vienna to Paris are wondering whether Berlin can still act as an honest broker within the EU in the future – or whether it will permanently allow itself to be pushed into the role of a transatlantic bridgehead, at the expense of European cohesion.