New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with Spain, calling the NATO ally a “wasted cause” and a “terrible
partner” amid deepening tensions over defence spending and Madrid’s refusal to back US military operations against Iran.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump accused Spain of failing to contribute adequately to the alliance and criticised its decision not to support US actions in the Middle East. He also said Spain had refused to align with Washington’s push for higher defence spending within NATO.
The US President directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to begin steps to halt trade with Spain. The US Treasury Department is reportedly going to soon identify Spanish products that could be subject to restrictions under emergency powers, although details of the measures have not yet been announced.
Spain rejects Trump’s criticism
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sought to play down the dispute, saying his discussions with Trump had remained cordial and describing US-Spain relations as positive.
Sánchez reiterated that Spain remained committed to NATO despite opposing the alliance’s proposed target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence. Madrid has instead maintained that its current spending plans are sufficient to meet NATO obligations.
Spain has also been among the European governments critical of recent US military operations against Iran and has declined requests related to supporting those operations, a disagreement that has further strained ties with Washington.
Defence spending and Iran widen rift
Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO members that spend less on defence than Washington wants, arguing that allies should shoulder a greater share of the alliance’s security burden. This has been an insistent and publicly vocal demand from Trump since his first term as US President. Spain has been one of the strongest opponents of the proposed 5 per cent target, calling it unrealistic and unnecessary.
The latest confrontation also comes against the backdrop of disagreements over the Iran conflict. Trump has accused Spain of failing to support US efforts in the Middle East. Despite these recent political tensions, economic ties between the two countries remain substantial, with the United States and Spain maintaining significant trade and investment links for now.
