Trump calls for US to cut off trade with Spain over NATO funding, Iran, again seeks control of Greenland at NATO summit
Trump Calls for US to Cut Trade with Spain Over NATO
Trump calls for US to cut off - Trump calls for US to cut commercial ties with Spain during the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. The president voiced strong frustration with allied nations over their support for American military operations in Iran, singling out Spain as a particular concern. While meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the summit, Trump labeled Spain a "wasted cause" and demanded immediate action on trade relations.
"We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore. By the way, I'd like you to cut it up. Scan, Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don't participate, they don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits."
NATO Defense Spending Dispute
This latest demand follows a pattern of complaints from the American president regarding Madrid's position. Spain remains the only NATO member that has not promised to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2030. The commitment was set at last year's Hague gathering, where Trump pushed allies to raise their targets from the previous two percent level.
The United States contributes more indirectly to the alliance than any other country due to its massive military budget. NATO official figures show Washington provides roughly fifteen percent of the organization's direct financial support. This disparity has become a regular topic in diplomatic exchanges between Washington and European nations.
Previous Trade Tensions
Commercial threats against Spain are not new. In March, tensions rose when Spain's foreign minister announced Madrid would block American forces from using southern Spanish military installations for actions outside UN charter provisions. Trump responded firmly, declaring he wanted no further commercial engagement with the country.
"I don't want to do any more trade with them. All right, take it immediately," Trump declared on Wednesday. "Don't even talk to them, they're hopeless, bad people, because you know they have everybody else going and paying and working in Spain, in particular Spain, there are a couple of others, but in particular Spain, they're open about it, they're hostile about it, and let's see how hostile they remain when they call up, and they 'please, please, we want to trade with you, sir, we want to trade with you, sir.' They make so much money with us, and we're going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them."
Global Response and Iran Campaign
After Trump's statements, officials at Moncloa Palace told Madrid's El Dario newspaper that Spain maintains strong social, cultural, and economic connections with the United States and plans no changes. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended the summit on July eighth, 2026.
Trump also discussed international cooperation during his military campaign in Iran. He claimed only smaller nations offered help, while larger powers stepped back. "There was calls made a few weeks ago," Trump explained, mentioning talks with leaders from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. "Nobody wanted to help. Some of the very small countries wanted to help, because they're the most vulnerable. I mean, that's the only reason they wanted to help."
Leaders from Britain, France, and Germany did not immediately respond to Trump's Wednesday remarks. Each country has refused to send military forces directly to the conflict while maintaining that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Trump stressed that American taxpayers have carried an unfair load, noting the United States has spent more than one trillion dollars recently protecting European nations from Russian aggression—protection he argued serves limited American interests.
"They weren't there for us, and we've been there for them," he stated. "We spent over a trillion dollars over the last short period, tri