President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to end U.S. trade with Spain after criticizing the NATO ally for refusing to commit to the alliance\u2019s new defense spending target.
\nSpeaking during the NATO summit, Trump repeatedly singled out Spain, calling the country a \u201cwasted cause\u201d and urging an end to trade with one of America\u2019s European allies.
\n\u201cSpain is a wasted cause,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way.\u201d
\nTrump went further, saying, \u201cCut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
MOST TRUMP SUPPORTERS STILL BACK NATO DESPITE YEARS OF TRUMP\u2019S CRITICISM, NEW POLL FINDS
\nThe president\u2019s comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Spain was the lone member of the alliance to publicly reject committing to the full target, instead negotiating flexibility in how it will meet NATO capability goals.
\nTrump argued Spain has benefited from the alliance while failing to contribute its fair share.
\n\u201cThey don\u2019t participate, they don\u2019t pay. I don\u2019t want anything to do with Spain,\u201d Trump said.
\nHe later added, \u201cI don\u2019t want to do any more trade with him. All right? Take it immediately. Don\u2019t even talk to them.\u201d
\nTrump also predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore trade ties with the United States.<\/p>\n
TRUMP\u2019S PERSONAL FEUDS WITH ALLIES FROM ITALY TO ISRAEL REVEAL HOW PERSONALITY DRIVES HIS FOREIGN POLICY
\n\u201cThey\u2019re hostile about it, and let\u2019s see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, \u2018Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir,’\u201d Trump said. \u201cThey make so much money with us, and we\u2019re going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them.\u201d
\nThe remarks represent an escalation of Trump\u2019s longstanding criticism of NATO allies that spend less on defense.\u00a0
\nThroughout both of his administrations, Trump has argued that countries failing to meet alliance spending commitments unfairly rely on the United States for their security.
\nAny effort to significantly restrict trade with Spain, however, could present legal and diplomatic hurdles. Spain is a member of the European Union, which negotiates trade policy as a customs union rather than through separate bilateral trade agreements with individual member states.
\nIt was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing a formal policy or expressing his frustration with Spain\u2019s position on NATO spending. The White House had not immediately provided details on whether the administration is considering trade restrictions targeting Spain.<\/p>\n
The U.S. and Spain maintain a significant trading relationship.\u00a0
\nThe two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods in 2025, with the United States exporting about $26 billion worth of goods to Spain and importing about $21 billion from Spain, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spain exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, food products and vehicles to the U.S., while the United States exports energy products, machinery, aerospace equipment and chemicals to Spain.
\nFox News Digital has reached out to the White House, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Spanish embassy for comment.
\nTrump\u2019s criticism of Spain also comes after months of growing friction between Washington and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez over national security and foreign policy.
\nEarlier in 2026, S\u00e1nchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an \u201cextraordinary mistake\u201d and called for de-escalation, while Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated Rota Naval Base and Mor\u00f3n Air Base to support offensive operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury.\u00a0
\nSpanish officials argued the strikes lacked international legal backing and said the bases could not be used for unilateral military action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"