In classic Trump fashion, the U.S. president lit up the NATO Summit in the Netherlands this week — not with fireworks, but with fiery rhetoric aimed squarely at Spain.

During a post-summit press conference on Wednesday, Donald Trump didn’t mince words: Spain’s reluctance to meet NATO’s new defense spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035 could cost it dearly — in the form of a much tougher trade deal with the United States. 💰💥

The former president accused Spain of trying to benefit from NATO’s protection without paying its fair share, calling it the only member nation refusing to commit to the new 5% benchmark.

📈 From 2% to 5% — A Major NATO Shift

Trump’s comments came just hours after NATO leaders agreed to an ambitious new defense spending goal. For years, the benchmark had been 2% of GDP. Now, under increasing pressure from both geopolitical instability and Trump’s influence, NATO members have signed on to a new target: 5% by 2035. 🚀

In a joint declaration, the alliance stated it is “united in the face of profound security threats and challenges,” explicitly citing Russia’s long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic stability and the “persistent threat” of terrorism.

The new goal marks a seismic shift in the military bloc’s posture — and one that could strain the budgets and political will of member countries, especially those in Southern Europe.

Spain Pushes Back

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded earlier in the day with a clear message: Spain supports NATO’s broader goals and will meet the alliance’s capability requirements — essentially, the tools and systems needed for joint defense. But when it comes to raw spending, Madrid sees things differently.

Sánchez said Spain’s current defense spending of 2% of GDP is “sufficient, realistic, and compatible with the welfare state.” ⚖️

In other words, Spain isn’t going to gut its healthcare and education systems just to hit an arbitrary military spending target — no matter how loud Trump yells.

Sánchez also thanked NATO allies for “respecting Spain’s sovereignty,” a subtle rebuke to Trump’s increasingly aggressive posture.

📊 What This Means

This clash reveals deeper tensions inside NATO. Trump has long railed against what he sees as America subsidizing European defense. But now, with many allies agreeing to the 5% increase, Spain’s dissent stands out even more starkly.

The result? A diplomatic showdown with potential economic consequences. Trump is threatening to double the price of a U.S.-Spain trade agreement — and with the U.S. being one of Spain’s key economic partners, that’s no idle threat. 📉

But it’s not just about money. Trump’s statement — “that economy could be blown right out of the water with something bad happening” — raised eyebrows. Critics have called it needlessly provocative and potentially threatening.

🌍 The Bigger Picture

While Trump was the loudest voice at the summit, he wasn’t the only one pushing for tougher defense commitments. Many NATO leaders agree that rising threats from Russia, Iran, and global terrorism require stronger deterrence — especially as the U.S. shifts more military focus toward Asia.

Still, the 5% goal is a steep climb. For context, even the U.S. currently spends around 3.5% of GDP on defense.

So while the summit showcased unity in principle, Spain’s pushback underscores the economic and political friction that lies ahead. ⚠️

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📬 Bottom Line

Spain isn’t ready to follow Trump’s lead on defense spending — and Trump isn’t taking that lightly. Expect more fireworks between the two countries as NATO’s new defense targets ripple through Europe’s domestic politics… and trade negotiations. 🌐🔥