Why Is Europe Not Following When The US Attacks Iran?

 The U.S.-led military strikes on Iran have entered their 10th day, and a striking phenomenon has emerged: European allies have almost collectively remained on the sidelines, with countries like Spain openly opposing the U.S. approach. It should be noted that in previous conflicts with Iraq, Libya, and the former Yugoslavia, NATO allies were an important military force that the United States had mobilized.

 The fact that European allies are "not following suit" reflects, from one perspective, the profound changes in the international landscape, especially in transatlantic relations.

 Why is Spain being so "stubborn" against the United States this time?

 Firstly, in terms of geographical location, if the Middle East becomes unstable, Spain, which is located at the strategic crossroads of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, will be the first to be affected, facing issues such as blocked trade routes and an influx of refugees. Therefore, the Spanish government's stance continues the policy consistency on the Middle East issue, which advocates for stabilizing the regional situation and opposes Israel's unilateral changes to the status quo.

 Secondly, Spain has a long-standing grudge against the United States. Previous actions by the US, such as imposing tariffs on Spain and demanding an increase in NATO military spending, have already provoked strong dissatisfaction in Spain. This time, the White House has threatened to cut off all trade relations with Spain.

 Thirdly, in terms of political stance, the left-wing government of Spain holds a different philosophy in international affairs compared to the White House. In recent years, Spain has sought to adopt a more balanced and diverse foreign policy stance in the power struggles among major powers, opposing the blind acceptance of the so-called common positions between the US and Europe. The Spanish logic that "the political motives of the United States cannot justify its actions" reflects a greater reliance on international relations norms rather than ideological divisions.