Donald Trump Rips NATO Allies; Calls Spain ‘Terrible Partner’

US President Donald Trump’s threat to halt trade with Spain has opened a fresh rift inside NATO, after he accused Madrid of being a “terrible partner” and ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut commercial dealings with the country. Spain has tried to play down the remarks, describing such threats as “business as usual” and saying it wants to keep its long-standing ties with Washington intact.

The exchange took place at the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump spoke to reporters alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It was one of his sharpest public attacks on a fellow alliance member and came as tensions were already running high over defence spending, the Iran conflict and Spain’s refusal to back some US military moves.

Trump targets Spain over NATO spending and Iran support

Trump said Spain “doesn’t agree to anything” and told Rutte that other allies should not have to “carry” Madrid. Turning to Bessent, he said he did not want the United States to do trade with Spain. Bessent replied, “Yes, sir,” according to the exchange reported from the summit.

“Take it immediately. Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless. They’re bad people. They make so much money with us, and we’re going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them,” Trump said. He also accused Spain of not pulling its weight in NATO and of contributing too little to collective defence.

The Spanish Prime Minister’s office issued a short but firm response, saying Madrid saw the threat as part of a familiar pattern. “Our country enjoys excellent social, cultural, and economic relations with the US, and it is not our intention for that to change,” the office said.

The dispute points to a bigger argument inside NATO over burden-sharing. Trump has repeatedly pressed allies to spend more on defence and has criticised countries he believes lean too heavily on US military power. Spain has refused to sign up to NATO’s new target of spending 5% of GDP on defence, a major sticking point with Washington.

Why Spain has become a flashpoint inside NATO

Spain’s stand on the Iran conflict has added to the strain. Madrid barred the United States from using Spanish airspace and military facilities for operations linked to Iran. That decision affected two key US-linked installations in Spain: Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base.

Both bases are important for American operations in Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean. Rota supports naval deployments, logistics and missile defence work, while Morón has long been used for air mobility and rapid response missions. Any restriction on their use carries diplomatic as well as operational consequences for Washington.

In March, Spain said US forces would not be allowed to use jointly operated bases on Spanish territory for Iran-related missions. It also denied access to Spanish airspace for American aircraft involved in the conflict. The move showed Madrid was unwilling to be drawn into US-led military action without political backing.

The disagreement reportedly deepened in April, when an internal Pentagon email discussed possible steps against NATO allies seen as failing to support Washington’s military campaign against Iran. One option mentioned was suspending Spain from the alliance, according to a Reuters report. Such a move would be highly unusual and politically explosive.

NATO decisions are taken by consensus, and suspending a member would raise serious legal and diplomatic questions. The alliance has no regular mechanism to expel or suspend members the way some other international bodies do. That makes Trump’s pressure campaign more likely to play out through trade, defence cooperation and political pressure.

Can the US cut all trade with Spain?

A complete trade cutoff would not be easy. Spain is part of the European Union, and trade policy for EU members is largely handled at the bloc level. Any broad US action against Spanish goods or services could quickly turn into a dispute between Washington and Brussels, not just Washington and Madrid.

The United States and Spain have deep economic ties, covering goods, services, investment, tourism, energy, infrastructure and technology. American companies operate in Spain, while Spanish firms have significant interests in the US, including in renewable energy, banking and construction. Any sudden disruption could hit businesses on both sides.

Trump’s remarks, though, may still carry immediate political weight. Even without a formal trade ban, the White House could review contracts, restrict procurement, delay approvals or use tariffs and sanctions if it chooses to escalate. Such steps would likely face legal, diplomatic and commercial scrutiny.

For Spain, the immediate instinct seems to be to contain the damage. By calling the threat “business as usual,” Madrid signalled that it does not want to feed the clash or get dragged into a public fight. Its statement also stressed continuity, suggesting Spain wants to keep the political row separate from the wider bilateral relationship.

The row comes at a delicate moment for NATO. The alliance is trying to project unity on defence spending, Ukraine, the Middle East and long-term deterrence. Public disputes between major members weaken that message, especially when they involve military access, alliance commitments and trade threats.

Trump’s comments have now turned Spain into a test case for how far Washington is willing to go against allies that resist its defence and foreign policy demands. Madrid has so far avoided a dramatic response, but the next move will depend on whether the threat turns into formal US policy or remains a pressure tactic from the summit stage.