Former President Donald Trump announced an order for the United States to cease all trade with Spain, escalating a dispute that emerged during the NATO summit.
Trump's directive, as reported, appears linked to Spain's commitment to defense spending. Spanish officials had agreed to a target of investing 5% of their GDP annually on defense by 2035, a commitment that apparently fell short of expectations or prior agreements for some member states. "We don't have to trade with them. I don't want to do any more trade with them. All right, take it immediately," Trump stated. "Don't even talk to them, they're hopeless, bad people."
Spanish Health Minister Monica García responded forcefully to Trump's comments, stating, "Trump calls Spain a 'terrible partner' because it accepts neither blackmail nor threats. Because we are a sovereign, democratic country that defends multilateralism and peace." She added, "Terrible is to confuse diplomacy with thuggery."
A Spanish government source indicated that the country aims to maintain its strong social, cultural, and economic relationship with the U.S. and does not intend for this to change. Relations between Washington and Madrid have reportedly been strained following the Iran war, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez being a vocal critic of the U.S.-led military campaign.