DR ‹ › Donald Trump has once again turned his sights on Spain. The 47th President of the United States declared during a White House press conference, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, his intention to «cease all trade with Spain». This announcement comes in response to the Spanish government's refusal, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to allow American military forces to use NATO bases at Rota and Morón for operations against Iran. «Spain has been pathetic,» Trump reiterated, noting that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to «cut all ties» with the nation. «We are going to cut all trade with Spain. We want nothing more to do with Spain,» Trump asserted. He emphasized, «I have the right to stop everything concerning Spain, and we could do it.» He also voiced his disappointment over the lack of cooperation from the United Kingdom. The American president reminded the press that Spain is «the only NATO country that has not agreed to dedicate 5%» of its GDP to defense spending, a benchmark he set at the last NATO summit held on June 24 and 25 in the Netherlands. In a swift response, Pedro Sánchez's government dismissed these threats in a statement. «If the American administration wishes to review [its trade relationship with Spain], it will have to do so while respecting the autonomy of private companies, international legality, and the bilateral agreements between the European Union and the United States,» the statement clarified. «Our country has the necessary resources to contain potential impacts, help potentially affected sectors, and diversify supply chains,» it added. The German chancellor refrained from taking a definitive stance in support of Spain, only pledging to Trump that he would attempt to persuade Madrid to meet the defense spending target. Last October, Donald Trump had already urged NATO to exclude Spain.
