Trump Threatens Spain with Trade Sanctions Over NATO Defense Spending Dispute

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Spain of potential trade penalties, including tariffs, over its refusal to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, calling the country’s stance “disrespectful” to NATO. Speaking at the White House, Trump said, “I’m very unhappy with Spain.

They’re the only country that didn’t raise their number up to 5 percent… so I’m not happy with Spain. I was thinking of giving them trade punishment through tariffs because of what they did, and I think I may do that.” Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO members to boost defense budgets and has questioned the U.S.’s willingness to defend nations that do not meet spending targets. Last week, while meeting Finland’s president, he even suggested that Spain could face expulsion from the alliance over its reluctance to commit to higher military spending.

The push for increased defense contributions comes in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which NATO members argue makes the previous 2 percent GDP guideline inadequate. Spain was the only one among the 32-member alliance not to agree to the 5 percent target.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had secured a last-minute exemption, committing the country to 2.1 percent of GDP, which he described as “sufficient and realistic.” Madrid also emphasizes its active troop contributions to NATO missions in Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkiye as part of its broader commitment to alliance security.

Trump’s remarks signal growing pressure on NATO members to increase defense spending, highlighting tensions within the alliance over burden-sharing and military commitments.