Trump warns of US trade halt with Spain over military budget clash

The United States will sever all trade ties with Spain after Madrid refused to raise its military spending to 5% of GDP, President Donald Trump said.

Speaking at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump criticised Spain’s position within NATO. 

“They [Spain] have great people, but they don’t have great leadership. And, as you know, they were the only country in NATO that would not agree to go up to 5% [military spending]. They wouldn’t agree to go up at anything,” he said.

“They want to keep it at 2% and they don’t pay the 2%. So, we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” the US president added.

“I could tomorrow stop or today even better stop everything having to do with Spain, all business having to do with Spain. I have the right to stop it. Embargoes, do anything I want with it and we may do that with Spain,” Trump concluded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada