THE HAGUE, Netherlands (Chatnewstv.com) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose tougher trade terms on Spain, accusing the southern European nation of refusing to meet NATO’s newly adopted defense spending target of 5% of gross domestic product.
At a press conference during NATO’s annual summit, Trump said it was “terrible” that Spain would not commit to the new benchmark, which alliance members agreed to reach by 2035.
“You know they are doing very well. The economy is [doing] very well. And that economy could be blown right out of the water with something bad happening,” Trump said.
“You know what we’re going to do? We’re negotiating with Spain on a trade deal and we’re going to make them pay twice as much — and I’m actually serious about that,” he added. “I like Spain … it’s a great place and they are great people, but Spain is the only country out of all of the countries that refuses to pay.”
Trump framed the refusal as an act of freeloading.
“So, they want a little bit of a free ride, but they will have to pay it back to us on trade because I am not going to let that happen. It’s unfair,” he said.
His remarks came hours after NATO leaders unveiled a joint declaration vowing to more than double their defense investment goals, raising the alliance-wide benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP within the next decade. The statement cited “profound security threats,” including the long-term challenge posed by Russia and the “persistent threat” of terrorism.
Earlier Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged that Spain would meet NATO’s updated capability targets — measures related to readiness and force deployment — but stood firm on limiting defense spending to 2% of GDP.
According to Reuters, Sánchez called the level “sufficient, realistic and compatible with the welfare state,” and thanked allies for “respecting Spain’s sovereignty.”
