Trump Floats ‘Trade Punishment’ for Spain Over Defense Spending
Spanish troops with a Spanish Armed Forces Pizarro armoured fighting vehicle during a NATO military exercise in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland in 2024.
Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesUS President Donald Trump said Spain should “be punished” over its opposition to raising its defense spending, adding that he had considered levying tariffs against products from the country.
“I think it’s very disrespectful to NATO. In fact, I was thinking about giving them trade punishment, through tariffs because of what they did. And I may do that,” Trump said Tuesday during a meeting with Argentinian President Javier Milei at the White House. “I think they should be punished.”