"I must say that today we summoned the Spanish ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express a strong protest in connection with the words of Jose Manuel Albares," the Malian aBamako news portal quoted the minister as saying.
The ambassador was summoned on Friday, the news outlet added.
On Thursday, Albares told the RNE radio station that he did not rule out the possibility of a NATO mission in Mali, adding that this issue was not on the agenda of the alliance's summit in Madrid.
"If it were necessary and if it posed a threat to our security, we would do it," Albares added.
The Spanish agency Europa Press reported, citing sources, that in response, Albares assured that the authorities of his country never asked for NATO's invasion of Mali, adding that deep bonds of friendship bind the two countries.