President Trump on Wednesday laid into Spain for expressing reservations about an increase in NATO defense spending, drawing his ire during his press conference at the alliance’s summit on Wednesday.
NATO allies earlier Wednesday approved a plan to increase their defense spending from 2 percent of gross domestic product to 5 percent by 2035. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has credited Trump for laying the groundwork for the increase.
But Spain has expressed reservations about increasing its share.
“I think Spain’s terrible what they’ve done. No, I do. They’re the only country that won’t pay the full — they want to stay at 2 percent,” Trump said in response to a Spanish reporters question.
The president suggested he would respond by making Spain “pay twice as much” as part of a trade deal. Spain is part of the European Union, which the U.S. is negotiating with as a trading bloc.
“I do like Spain, by the way,” Trump said. “I think it’s unfair that they’re not paying.”
He later said he would negotiate with Spain on the matter directly.
Trump earlier said he was leaving the NATO summit in the Netherlands with a greater appreciation for the alliance and that it was not a “ripoff.”
“I left here differently. I left here saying these people really love their countries. It’s not a ripoff and we’re here to help them protect their country,” Trump said.
It was rare praise from Trump for the NATO alliance. He has for years criticized its members for not putting enough toward defense spending and at times suggested the U.S. may not come to the aid of delinquent members.
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