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Trump Orders Trade Ban on NATO Partner Spain
🇦🇹 Austria /Economy & Trade

Trump Orders Trade Ban on NATO Partner Spain

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a complete trade embargo against Spain, calling it a "terrible partner" in the NATO alliance.
  • The move follows Spain's refusal to allow U.S. use of its bases and airspace for operations in the war against Iran, and its non-compliance with NATO's defense spending targets.
  • Trump instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately cease all trade with Spain, stating the U.S. will ensure Spain earns significantly less.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a total trade embargo against Spain, labeling the NATO ally a "terrible partner" and instructing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt all commerce with the country. The dramatic announcement came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with Spain's role within the military alliance.

Spain is a 'terrible partner' in the military alliance.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's initial assessment of Spain's role in NATO.

Trump's ire appears to stem from several issues. Spain's socialist government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has not agreed to NATO's new target of increasing defense spending to five percent of GDP. Furthermore, Spain denied the United States permission to use its airspace and military bases for operations related to the war against Iran.

"Spain does not agree to anything, and you should not involve them," Trump reportedly told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "I don't want any trade with them, understand?" he added, instructing Bessent to "implement that immediately. Don't even talk to them. They are hopeless. They are bad people."

I don't want any trade with them, understand?

— Donald TrumpDirecting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cease all trade with Spain.

Trump explicitly stated his intention to harm Spain's economy: "They make so much money with us, and we will ensure that they earn significantly less. I don't want any business with them."

Implement that immediately. Don't even talk to them. They are hopeless. They are bad people.

— Donald TrumpInstructing his Treasury Secretary on how to proceed with the trade embargo.

This punitive action is not entirely unprecedented. Earlier this year, a Pentagon internal email revealed that the U.S. had explored options for penalizing NATO allies perceived as not sufficiently supporting American operations in the Iran conflict. Among the measures considered was the potential expulsion of Spain from the alliance, according to a U.S. government official who spoke to Reuters in April. The U.S. maintains two key military installations in Spain: the naval base in Rota and the air base in Morón.

They make so much money with us, and we will ensure that they earn significantly less. I don't want any business with them.

— Donald TrumpExplaining the economic consequences intended for Spain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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