Trump beats Spain for rejecting NATO’s new 5% defence spending target
President Donald Trump said “bad” Spain has refused to meet NATO’s new 5% defense goal and threatened them with tariffs.
president Donald Trump At a press conference on Wednesday, the company tore into Spain in refusing to adhere to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s new 5% defence spending target.
“They are the only countries that don’t pay, and they want to stay at 2%,” Trump said. “I think it’s awful. And you know, they’re doing very well, the economy,” Trump said the US is negotiating a trade deal with Spain, as a result of Spain’s denial.
“They want a little more free ride, but they don’t let that happen, so they have to pay us back on trade. That’s unfair.”
Trump speaks at the NATO summit amidst global warming with alliance leaders
President Donald Trump. (Reuters/Piroscavan de U.S.)
The president added that he would negotiate directly with Spain and persuade him to agree to the 5% threshold.
Spain moved seriously to boost defense spending in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and in light of the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine, which became NATO’s biggest headache.
In the 11th hour of negotiations on new targets, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed that his country could not achieve its 5% target and called for a carbaeout in an agreement on spending targets. His country is struggling to achieve its 2% target.
“Spain is threatening NATO unification, which has been in place since 1949,” European officials told Fox News Digital. “This is not a La Carte menu for choosing and choosing. Spain is always seeking solidarity and support – the 2008 financial crisis, community – I’ve received the.”
Officials said US officials were pushing Spain behind the scenes and asked European allies to apply pressure. “The US didn’t want it to escalate to Trump’s level.”
Trump heads to the NATO summit to agree that Europe will be wary of his defensive spending demands
With the commitment agreed by NATO leaders, the allies have increased spending to 3.5% of their core defense for a decade, and increased to 1.5% for defense-related spending such as cyberwarfare and intelligence.
Slovakia also raised concerns about new spending targets, but said it would ultimately not get in the way of the new contract.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed that his country could not achieve its 5% target and demanded a carbaout in an agreement on spending targets. His country is struggling to achieve its 2% target. (Reuters/Claudia Greco)
French President Emmanuel Macron has a problem Europe and It blocks Trump’s demands for spending while under the threat of tariffs. “We can’t tell each other. We need to spend more among allies… and we need to pay each other a trade war. That makes no sense.”
NATO Executive Director Mark Latte said he understands the threats that allies face the alliance and “we united with understanding that we need to step up to stay safe.”
“They want a little more free ride, but they don’t let it happen, so they have to pay us back by trade. That’s unfair,” President Donald Trump said of Spain. (Reuters/Yves Herman)
The momentum behind Defense boost This comes after Trump waking up whether the US will commit to Article 5, the collective defense agreement of the NATO treaty, if European countries do not step up for their own defense.
When asked where he was in Article 5 on Wednesday, Trump said, “I’m standing with it. So I’m here. If I hadn’t had it, I wouldn’t be here.”
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His tone was less clear Tuesday.
“It depends on your definition,” Trump said. “I promise to be their friend.”