President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Spain’s NATO commitments on Wednesday, calling Madrid a poor ally and urging an end to trade and visits between the two countries over its refusal to meet higher defense spending targets. Trump made the comments during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte as alliance leaders gathered to discuss military spending and future priorities.
“Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don’t participate. They don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits,” Trump said. “Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless, bad people,” the president added. “There are a couple of others, but in particular Spain.”
Spain is the only NATO member that did not commit last year to the alliance’s goal of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense by 2035. Madrid instead reached a separate arrangement with NATO after declining to sign onto the higher spending target, which has remained a source of tension between Trump and Spanish officials.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Spain spent 2.1% of its GDP on defense in 2025, up from 1.4% in 2021. Despite the increase, the country continues to spend less than many other NATO members.
Rutte pushed back on Trump’s criticism during the news conference, pointing to Spain’s increased spending in recent years. “You got Spain to pay 2%. They spent, they made a huge step in last year,” Rutte said, while acknowledging there were still “issues we have to solve” with Madrid.
Trump has repeatedly slammed Spain over its lack of defense contributions and previously threatened to cut off all trade with the country over the issue. The president's latest comments came as NATO members worked through disagreements over defense commitments, according to the BBC.
The Spanish prime minister’s office said it viewed Trump’s comments as part of ongoing discussions and maintained that relations between the United States and Spain remain beneficial in both trade and defense.
Trump also said he is not happy with NATO as a whole, although he praised Rutte as “a great leader.” The comments came the same day Trump said he considered the ceasefire with Iran to be over after renewed exchanges between Washington and Tehran. Spanish markets reacted to the remarks, with the country’s benchmark IBEX 35 index falling and Spanish bonds declining.
“Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don’t participate. They don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits,” Trump said. “Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless, bad people,” the president added. “There are a couple of others, but in particular Spain.”
Spain is the only NATO member that did not commit last year to the alliance’s goal of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense by 2035. Madrid instead reached a separate arrangement with NATO after declining to sign onto the higher spending target, which has remained a source of tension between Trump and Spanish officials.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Spain spent 2.1% of its GDP on defense in 2025, up from 1.4% in 2021. Despite the increase, the country continues to spend less than many other NATO members.
Rutte pushed back on Trump’s criticism during the news conference, pointing to Spain’s increased spending in recent years. “You got Spain to pay 2%. They spent, they made a huge step in last year,” Rutte said, while acknowledging there were still “issues we have to solve” with Madrid.
Trump has repeatedly slammed Spain over its lack of defense contributions and previously threatened to cut off all trade with the country over the issue. The president's latest comments came as NATO members worked through disagreements over defense commitments, according to the BBC.
The Spanish prime minister’s office said it viewed Trump’s comments as part of ongoing discussions and maintained that relations between the United States and Spain remain beneficial in both trade and defense.
Trump also said he is not happy with NATO as a whole, although he praised Rutte as “a great leader.” The comments came the same day Trump said he considered the ceasefire with Iran to be over after renewed exchanges between Washington and Tehran. Spanish markets reacted to the remarks, with the country’s benchmark IBEX 35 index falling and Spanish bonds declining.
