Madrid – The president of the United States, Donald Trump, said this Thursday that he will have to talk with Spain so that it increases its military budget, after stressing that it is the only NATO country that has not committed to spending more on Defense.
In a speech before the World Economic Forum in Davos to present the Peace Board for Gaza, Trump reviewed international achievements in the first year of his second term, including the agreement at the Hague summit by which the allies committed to devote 5% to military spending.
“I obtained commitments from practically all NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. All except Spain. I don’t know what is happening with Spain,” he said.
Trump questioned the position of the government of Pedro Sánchez, suggesting that it wants to “take advantage.” “I don’t know why. We are going to have to talk with Spain,” he indicated, referring to the refusal to raise spending above 2%.
The disagreements over the 5% military spending target have marked relations between Spain and the United States over the last year, and in the past Trump has already threatened to impose tariffs because he considers Spain’s stance “disrespectful.”
In this context, he went so far as to suggest that NATO expel Spain as a member, although the Atlantic Alliance lacks a mechanism to expel one of its allies and withdrawal is only contemplated on a voluntary basis.
At the summit held in the Netherlands, Spain confirmed its support for the declaration that sets 5% as the new investment threshold for 2035, after a letter in which the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, gave Spain more flexibility to meet its capability targets without sticking to a figure, in reference to Spain’s position.
The editorial responsibility for this publication lies with Europa Press.