Spain declines to comment on Trump's trade remarks

Spain's Foreign Ministry will not comment on US President Donald Trump's criticism of Madrid, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has stated, dismissing the idea of responding to every public statement made by foreign leaders.

Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to sever trade ties with Spain, branding Madrid a "terrible partner" within the alliance, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Albares said Trump made some completely different statements afterward, and they are not going to be commenting on comments forever.

The minister stressed that the United States and Spain maintain mutually beneficial trade relations and stressed that Madrid remains an important ally within NATO.

He pointed to bilateral defence cooperation, noting "we have a treaty governing the joint use of bases, which is also beneficial for the United States."

"Therefore, our relationship at this time is good economically, good commercially, and also good in other sectors such as culture," Albares emphasised.

He further highlighted cooperation in education and academic exchanges, adding: "Education, university exchanges, and we are a very important ally, I would say fundamental, at this time for Euro-Atlantic security."

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov