On 20 March 2003 , Spanish Prime Minister , José María Aznar , UK Prime Minister , Tony Blair , President of the United States George W. Bush , and Prime Minister of Portugal , José Manuel Durão Barroso as host , met in the Azores , to discuss the invasion of Iraq , and Spain 's potential involvement in the war , as well as the beginning of the invasion . This encounter was extremely controversial in Spain , even now remaining a very sensitive point for the Aznar government . Almost a year later , Madrid suffered the worst terrorist attack in Europe since the Lockerbie bombing , motivated by Spain 's decision to participate in the Iraq war , prompting some Spaniards to accuse the Prime Minister of being responsible
Lockerbie bombing
Pan Am Flight 103
2003 invasion of Iraq