On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to sever trade relations with Spain, criticizing the nation for not meeting its NATO obligations. He also stated that discussions with Iran were essentially concluded and reiterated his long-standing assertion that the U.S. should have control over Greenland.
While speaking in Ankara alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump mentioned that he had tasked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with evaluating the possibility of halting trade with Spain, as reported by Reuters.
“Spain is a lost cause. We no longer wish to engage in trade with Spain,” Trump remarked. “Spain is a poor ally in NATO; they do not contribute adequately or participate effectively. I want no dealings with Spain. We should terminate all trade with Spain, including any visits,” he further emphasized.
These statements emerged during a time when NATO leaders were attempting to present a united front on defense expenditures and continued support for Ukraine. However, Trump’s comments instead revealed underlying tensions within the alliance. According to Reuters, European leaders had anticipated that the summit would highlight increased defense commitments following the announcement of over $50 billion in military initiatives just a day prior.
This latest outburst has intensified the already strained relations between Washington and Madrid. Spain has openly opposed Trump’s demands for European allies to substantially increase their defense budgets and has also declined to permit the use of its airspace or military bases during the U.S. military operations against Iran, as noted by Reuters.
In response to Trump’s remarks, the office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attempted to downplay the situation, asserting that the bilateral relationship remains advantageous for both nations. Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia, however, took a firmer stance, stating that Spain is “a sovereign, democratic nation that champions multilateralism and peace,” and accused Trump of mistaking “diplomacy for intimidation,” according to Reuters.
A NATO diplomat quoted by Reuters indicated that the alliance’s approach to Trump’s criticisms would be to continue enhancing Europe’s contributions to NATO.
In addition, Trump indicated that the interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran had essentially collapsed following recent military actions by the U.S. against Iranian targets and the revocation of a permit for Iran to sell oil.
When asked about the status of the interim arrangement with Iran, Trump stated, “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them.” He characterized Iran’s leadership in harsh terms, calling them “sick people” and claiming that further negotiations would be “a waste of time,” according to Reuters.
Rutte defended the recent U.S. military actions, arguing that they were necessary in light of what he described as Iranian breaches of the ceasefire. He also credited Trump with urging European allies to boost defense spending, calling it “a significant victory” for NATO, as reported by Reuters.
Moreover, Trump reiterated his long-held view that the U.S. should take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that holds strategic significance due to its Arctic location.
“Greenland is crucial for the United States, but not for Denmark,” Trump stated, alluding to Denmark’s occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II.
This prompted an immediate rebuttal from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who firmly rejected any notion that Greenland’s status was up for discussion. “Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen asserted, according to an AFP report. She also reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to defend all NATO territories, including Greenland.
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