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US President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, the Netherlands on June 25, 2025.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
US President Donald Trump Wednesday said Spain’s refusal to meet the NATO defense expenses target Out of 5% of the gross domestic product will mean a more difficult trade agreement for the country in southern Europe.
Speaking at a press conference at the NATO annual summit in the Netherlands, Trump said that it was “terrible” that Spain does not commit to achieving the target by 2035.
“You know they are fine. The economy is [doing] Alright. And this economy could be breathtaking out of the water with something wrong, “said Trump.
“You know what we are going to do? We are negotiating with Spain on a trade agreement and we will make them pay twice as much-and I am really serious on this subject. I like Spain … It is an ideal place and they are great people, but Spain is the only country of all the countries that refuses to pay,” he continued.
“So they want a free trip a bit, but they will have to pay us off on trade because I’m not going to let it happen. It is unfair,” said Trump.
His comments come shortly after NATO allies agreed For more than double their target of defense expenses of 2% of GDP at 5% by 2035.
In a joint statement, the Western military bloc said that it was “united in the face of profound threats and challenges of security”, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the “persistent threat” of terrorism.
Earlier in the day, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country would achieve new NATO capacity objectives, which refer to measures that members should take to defend themselves as well as the wider military alliance.
However, Sanchez said Madrid considered current defense expenses of 2% of GDP as “sufficient, realistic and compatible with the welfare state,” said Reuters. Sanchez would also have thanked the NATO allies to “respecting Spain’s sovereignty”.
A spokesperson for the Spanish government was not immediately available when contacted by CNBC.
– CNBC Holly Ellyatt contributed to this report.
