US President Donald Trump escalated tensions at the NATO summit by declaring that the United States will cut off all trade ties with Spain, branding the ally a “terrible partner.”
He accused Madrid of inadequate defence spending and cooperation, saying Washington no longer wanted economic or travel relations with the country.
Trump said, “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore. Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits.” He predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore ties, insisting, “Watch them come running back.”
The remarks came as Trump also announced that the Iran peace deal was over, describing Tehran’s leadership as “sick people” and calling negotiations a “waste of time.”
The dispute highlights long-standing friction between Washington and Madrid over NATO burden-sharing. Spain remains the only alliance member exempted from the new defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, capping its expenditure at 2.1%. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended Spain’s progress, noting it had raised spending from 1.4% in 2021 to 2.1% in 2025.
Relations soured further after Spain refused to allow US access to military bases and airspace during operations against Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticised US and Israeli strikes as destabilising unilateral actions.
Responding to Trump’s latest comments, Sánchez’s office said Madrid considered the remarks “business as usual” and stressed that bilateral ties remained “excellent.” Spain pointed out that the US enjoys a trade surplus and that EU rules prevent unilateral targeting of member states.
Spain’s health minister added, “Trump calls Spain a terrible partner because we accept neither blackmail nor threats. Terrible is to confuse diplomacy with thuggery.”
