President Donald Trump expressed his frustration over Spain’s “terrible” decision to resist commitments for increased military spending at NATO, warning of potential repercussions during upcoming trade negotiations that he will personally oversee.
“I think it’s terrible,” Trump stated when questioned at the NATO conference about his satisfaction with Spain’s position. As Spain faces criticism for being the only holdout on the defence spending increase, Trump indicated that he would take a tough stance in trade discussions following his tariffs, which have already unsettled financial markets worldwide.
“They’re doing very well. The economy is very strong, and that economy could be blown right out of the water with something bad happening,” he cautioned, delivering a clear warning.
Amid increasing global threats, allied leaders have agreed to work towards a commitment for each nation to allocate 5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to military capabilities. Trump has long advocated for member nations to meet a lower 2 percent threshold and received praise from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who acknowledged Trump’s leadership in this area, even referring to him as “daddy.”
In a pointed exchange with a Spanish reporter, Trump remarked, “Congratulations. You’re the only country that is not paying,” before reiterating his intention to impose consequences on Spain for its lack of compliance.
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