At the NATO summit in Ankara, former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Spain, labeling it a “wasted cause” and threatening to cut trade. His remarks followed Spain’s refusal to raise its defense spending toward the alliance’s 5% of GDP target.
Trump noted that Spain plans to spend 2.1% of its GDP on NATO targets, significantly below the 5% goal by 2035. He argued that the United States bears the largest share of NATO costs while receiving minimal benefits.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded that Spain remains committed to NATO and will not alter its relationship with the United States. The Spanish government maintains its defense obligations and stresses continued cooperation.
The comments were triggered by Spain’s decision to close its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the March operation against Iran, a move that intensified diplomatic tensions. Sánchez described the action as an illegal war and denied allowing U.S. planes to refuel in Spanish airspace.
During the summit, Trump also addressed other alliance concerns, including a controversial stance on
