While speaking at the NATO Leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump publicly criticized Spain during a press availability with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The remarks came ahead of scheduled meetings with alliance leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had attended a group dinner with Trump the previous evening.
“Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,” the president said. “Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don’t participate, they don’t pay. I don’t want to have anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits… Watch them come running back.”
Trump further described Spain’s attitude towards the U.S. and NATO as “hostile” and unsustainable. “Let’s see how hostile they remain when they call up and they [say], ‘Please, please. We want to trade with you, sir. We want to trade with you, sir.’”
🔥 President Trump is absolutely RIPPING Spain in front of the whole world, declaring we’ll be CUTTING OFF TRADE
“Spain is a WASTED CAUSE. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore.”
“Spain is a TERRIBLE partner in NATO. They don’t participate, they don’t pay.”… pic.twitter.com/s9lkWa3V31
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 8, 2026
The president’s scathing comments came in response to Spain’s position on NATO defense spending targets. At the 2025 NATO summit and in subsequent discussions, Spain under Sánchez declined to commit to the higher spending goals advocated by the United States and other allies, which included targets reaching 5% of GDP by 2035.
Spain maintained that lower levels, around 2.1% or its existing commitments, were sufficient and realistic for its national priorities, including social welfare programs. Trump has repeatedly described this stance as unfair to other members who have increased contributions under the new framework, which has been endorsed by Rutte and senior NATO leaders.
Spain has also placed a number of restrictions on U.S. military operations related to the conflict with Iran. Back in March, the Spanish government, through Defense Minister Margarita Robles and with support from Sánchez, refused to authorize the use of jointly operated U.S.-Spanish military bases at Rota and Morón for operations tied to strikes against Iran. Spain also closed its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in those operations.
Spanish officials described the conflict as unjustifiable and opposed involvement that could escalate tensions. This led to the relocation of some U.S. aircraft and prompted earlier statements from Trump threatening trade measures.
Tensions between the Trump administration and Spain’s leftist government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), have developed over several years. During the 2025 NATO summit in the Netherlands, Spain stood out as the primary member resisting accelerated defense spending increases, securing what it viewed as flexibility while other allies aligned more closely with U.S. positions.
Trump has consistently highlighted disparities in NATO burden-sharing, noting that the United States accounts for the majority of alliance defense expenditures.
