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Spain has responded firmly after US President Donald Trump suggested expelling the country from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for failing to meet his heightened defence spending target.
In June, NATO’s 32 member states agreed to gradually raise defence spending to five per cent of annual economic output over the next decade, under pressure from Trump.
Spain, which ranked lowest in relative defence spending last year, has maintained that it will focus on meeting capacity objectives rather than a fixed headline figure.
Trump singled out Spain on Thursday, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “We had one laggard, it was Spain. They have no excuse not to do this, but that’s all right. Maybe you should throw them out of NATO, frankly.”
In response, Spanish government sources emphasised that the country is a “committed and full member of NATO” and meets its capacity targets on par with the United States.
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has argued that Spain’s approach accounts for broader defence and security priorities, including cybersecurity and environmental considerations, rather than focusing solely on spending levels.
The president of the main conservative opposition, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, criticised Sanchez on social media, writing: “Spain is a credible, proud member and committed to NATO. And we will remain so. The problem is Sanchez. He can’t be trusted, but that should not hold the country back. Our nation should not have to pay for his frivolity and irresponsibility.”
Far-right leader Santiago Abascal, head of Spain’s Vox party, also attacked the prime minister, stating that Sanchez “further destroys national interests and seriously harms our security” and describing him as “the greatest calamity Spain has had in a long time.”
