In a press conference in The Hague, Donald Trump expressed his intent to make Spain pay more in the ongoing trade talks after its refusal to meet the new NATO defense spending cap. This threat came amid NATO members agreeing to significant increases in defense spending.
Continuation of trade talks with Spain
Trump characterized Spain’s decision as 'very terrible' and stated, 'We’re going to make them pay twice as much.' This threat raised eyebrows, as Spain, like other EU members, doesn’t make individual trade deals with the U.S. Those talks are handled by the European Commission, which represents all 27 member states.
Trump's praises at NATO summit
Instead of focusing on Spain’s refusal, Trump spent time praising his own impact on the alliance, stating, 'They said, ‘You did it, sir, you did it.’' He also noted that he no longer believes NATO is a scam, saying, 'I left here differently. These people really love their countries.'
Response from European leaders
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump’s trade threats, stating, 'We cannot, among allies, say that we must spend more…and wage a trade war.' He emphasized the importance of returning to rules within a group of allies and achieving true trade peace.
Throughout the NATO summit, Trump focused on his achievements but faced criticism from European leaders. The threats towards Spain and reflections on NATO underscore important aspects of global politics.
