United States President Donald Trump once again used a harsh tone against Spain after the last NATO summit, accusing the country of not meeting new military investment targets. Trump went further and even suggested his expulsion from the organization.
According to the Spanish portal Business Insider, the statements were made in Washington, at a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Trump, who has been pressuring European allies to increase defense spending, announced that he wants to see each country invest 5% of GDP in the armed forces by 2035.
The number represents more than double the current 2% commitment, agreed in 2014, and is seen by many analysts as an unprecedented demand. Still, Trump stated that “the proposal was approved practically unanimously”, with one notable exception.
“I asked them to pay the 5%, not the 2%, and the majority thought that wasn’t going to happen. We had one country prayed for: Spain. Frankly, maybe they should expel them from NATO”, declared US President Donald Trump, visibly irritated by Madrid’s position.
Spain refuses to follow the new spending level
The Spanish government, led by Pedro Sánchez, argued during the June summit that the issue of military investment must maintain “flexibility” and not be tied to rigid percentages. Spain signed NATO’s final declaration, but made it clear that it is not committed to 5% of GDP.
According to diplomatic sources cited by the Spanish press, the country wants to focus on meeting the Alliance’s technical and operational requirements, rather than a fixed number. This position, however, placed Madrid in a delicate situation vis-à-vis the other allies.
Trump’s proposal was supported by almost all NATO Member States, who agreed to review their defense budgets in the coming years. Even traditionally cautious countries such as Germany and Italy have avoided directly confronting the White House.
NATO’s reaction and Brussels’ warning
NATO’s new secretary general, Mark Rutte, has already responded to internal criticism, recalling that “there are no escape clauses” in the agreement signed by the 32 member countries. According to Rutte, each government must “demonstrate clear progress” in increasing military spending.
Brussels now fears that Trump’s words will fuel divisions within the organization, especially among the most financially pressured southern European countries. Spain appears, in this context, as the most vulnerable link.
International analysts emphasize that Trump’s speech fits into his strategy of showing strength to his allies, reinforcing the idea that the United States “cannot continue to pay for the defense of others”.
Pressure with political contours
The insistence on the theme of defense also has an internal reading. In the United States, the Republican seeks to demonstrate firmness and capitalize on the discontent of part of the electorate who consider NATO an economic burden for Washington.
The threat to expel Spain, although unlikely in practice, is seen as a form of symbolic pressure. No country has ever been expelled from the Atlantic Alliance, and the process would require unanimity from the remaining members.
Still, the American president’s words leave their mark. Spain, which has been strengthening its presence in NATO’s international missions, now sees its credibility questioned.
Risk of isolation within the Alliance
In Madrid, the government reacted with restraint. Sources close to Pedro Sánchez limited themselves to recalling that Spain “complies with the operational and human commitments” made within the organization.
The opposition, however, took advantage of the moment to criticize the Executive’s foreign policy, accusing it of “weakening the country’s image” among its Western allies.
Tension between both sides of the Atlantic could worsen in the coming months if Trump maintains his tone. For now, the White House guarantees that it will continue to “make double pay” to countries that, in its words, “do not contribute fairly to common security”, according to .
Spain, which faces budgetary limitations and an unstable political climate, will have to decide how to respond to a demand that is redrawing the balance within NATO, and which could redefine its role on the international stage.
Also read:
