Ankara, Jul 08 (V7N)- U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt all trade with Spain, sharply criticizing the NATO ally and describing Madrid as "a terrible partner" within the alliance.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump said he no longer wanted the United States to maintain trade relations with Spain.
"Spain doesn't agree to anything, and you shouldn't carry them," Trump said before instructing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to move forward with cutting off trade. He added that he wanted "no business" with Spain.
The latest move follows growing tensions between Washington and Madrid over defence policy. Spain has refused to commit to NATO's new target of spending 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. The Trump administration has also criticized Spain for refusing to allow the United States to use Spanish airspace and military bases during the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration with Spain's position on both defence spending and military cooperation, arguing that NATO members should contribute more to the alliance's collective security.
Spanish officials, however, have downplayed Trump's announcement, noting that trade policy is negotiated collectively by the European Union rather than through bilateral agreements with individual member states. Analysts have also noted that any attempt to halt trade with Spain could face legal and practical challenges under U.S. and EU trade rules.
The announcement has further strained relations between Washington and Madrid, raising fresh uncertainty over transatlantic trade and cooperation within the NATO alliance.
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