Spain is bristling at Washington over its critique of a Barcelona euthanasia case, which has served to further strain ties between the two allies. A leaked US cable shows the State Department told its embassy in Madrid to scrutinize how Spain applied its right-to-die law in the case of 25-year-old Noelia Castillo, a survivor of sexual assault and attempted suicide who chose legal euthanasia after years of physical pain and paralysis, per Politico. US officials reportedly questioned the law's use in "non-terminal" and psychiatric contexts and ordered diplomats to convey "serious concerns" to Spanish counterparts. Those concerns extend far beyond the assisted death debate.
The cable raised concerns about "allegations that Ms. Castillo was repeatedly sexually assaulted while under state care and that no perpetrators have been brought to justice," and said US authorities were investigating the possibility that "individuals of a migration background" were responsible, per the New York Post. It went on to say "Spain's facilitation of mass and illegal migration represents a dangerous threat to ... regional and global security."
Madrid's response was swift. Health Minister Mónica García told President Trump to stop "sticking his nose" into Spain's internal affairs. She described Spain as "a serious country, with a solid healthcare system and a rights framework that protects and cares for all people," contrasting that with the US, where "thousands of uninsured people die" every year. She also accused Trump of "human rights violations" in Iran and Gaza. The clash lands atop existing tensions between the two governments over the US-Israeli war on Iran and NATO spending, and comes as more US states join the list of those allowing assisted death in some form.
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