Spain says Trump softened rhetoric after learning of Madrid's contributions to NATO
Madrid said Trump backed off after learning Spain had sharply increased its NATO contributions in recent years.
- On Friday, President Donald Trump softened his trade threat against Spain aboard Air Force One, reversing his earlier demand after learning Madrid had surged NATO contributions in recent years.
- At the NATO summit in Ankara on Thursday, Trump had criticized Spain for refusing a 5 percent GDP spending target, threatening to halt all trade and cut visits. Madrid's compliance with the 2 percent NATO target prompted the reversal.
- Speaking to reporters, Trump said Spain "came back all the way today" and was "very generous today," after the country highlighted its defense spending had tripled since 2018 and deployed the largest number of troops on NATO's eastern flank.
- The reversal establishes a precedent linking trade access to NATO spending levels, signaling other alliance members that publicizing defense contributions may mitigate potential trade threats from the administration.
- While the immediate trade threat is eased, it remains unclear what specific policy changes this softening entails for long-term economic relations between Spain and the United States.
17 Articles
17 Articles
US President Donald Trump made a 180-degree turn in his comments about Spain during a single day of the NATO summit in Ankara. First, he called it a "terrible partner" and ordered an immediate suspension of trade with it due to disputes over defense spending and the war on Iran. But then he was reminded of the sharp increase in Madrid's contributions to the alliance in recent years and suddenly praised "generous Spain."
(Agenzia Vista) USA, July 9, 2026 "I have to say that I had problems with Spain, and I still have, but today Spain is back on track completely. Spain was very generous today... they honored a request for a lot of payments and if they hadn't, we wouldn't even talk with them," Trump said talking to reporters aboard Air Force One. WhiteHouse Source: Agenzia Vista / Alexander Jakhnagiev
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Spain Denies Trump Claim That Madrid Shifted On NATO Defense Spending
Spain’s foreign minister rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that Madrid changed course after U.S. trade pressure, saying Spain understands the president to have been referring ... The post Spain Denies Trump Claim That Madrid Shifted On NATO Defense Spending first appeared on [your]NEWS.
Trump claims he won Spain debate but Spain has no idea what he’s talking about
Politico reported on Friday that President Donald Trump is bragging that he won a battle with Spain over his military expenditure demands, but Spanish officials are very confused about how he got that idea in his head. Trump was at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey this week, where he criticized Spain for refusing to agree to a 5 percent of GDP investment target for each member state over the next 10 years. “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t wan…
First Donald Trump insults Spain, then he suddenly praises the country. Madrid cannot be irritated by this – but opposition to the US president poses considerable risks.
Spain says Trump softened rhetoric after learning of Madrid's contributions to NATO
Madrid said on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump had softened his rhetoric on Spain, hours after threatening to halt trade with the NATO ally, because he had been made aware of a surge in Madrid's contributions to the alliance in recent years.
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