This week’s move of permanently withdrawing ambassador Ana Maria Salomon Perez comes six months after Spain initially recalled her from Tel Aviv as the two countries sparred over arms deliveries to Israel. Tel Aviv’s Spanish Embassy will be managed by the charge d’affaires, emblematic of the weakening relationship between the countries.

Tel Aviv had recalled its ambassador to Madrid in May 2024 in response to the Spanish government’s announcement that it would recognize Palestinian statehood. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar blasted Sanchez for leading what he called a “hostile anti-Israeli line” in September 2025 as the Spanish government upped its criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Sa’ar also sanctioned two Spanish ministers at the time, barring them from entering Israel.

Sanchez has angered both Israeli and U.S. leaders with his response to the war with Iran. The Spanish leader refused to allow the U.S. military to use their joint military bases in Spain for the operation, escalating tensions with President Donald Trump.

“We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order,” Sanchez wrote on X in response to the initial Feb. 28 joint strikes from Israel and the U.S.

Trump, in response, threatened to end all trade with Spain.

“Spain has been terrible. In fact, I told [Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] to cut off all dealings with Spain,” Trump said last Tuesday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has outspokenly advocated American intervention in Iran, spoke out against the Spanish government’s decision to withdraw its ambassador on Wednesday. “This is hard for me to absorb,” he wrote on X.

Spain has also sparred with the U.S. and its NATO allies over spending targets, rejecting an alliance proposal in June 2025 to increase military spending to 5% of each country’s GDP. Spain instead capped its defense spending at 2.1%, drawing Trump’s ire as Sanchez kept his country as the lowest defense spender in NATO.

IRAN WAR SHIFTS US ALLIANCES IN EUROPE

“The religious Nazi regime in Iran is the problem, not the Jewish State. I hope Spain’s actions will not encourage the tyrannical, fanatical regime in Iran — that abuses its own people — to hang on. Time will tell,” Graham wrote.

The Washington Examiner has reached out to the White House for comment.