'Wasted cause': Why Trump wants to cut off trade with Spain
Trump calls for end of all trade with Spain, calling them 'hopeless' Why Spain and why now Defence spending The Iran war PM Pedro Sánchez
Trump calls for end of all trade with Spain, calling them 'hopeless' Why Spain and why now Defence spending The Iran war PM Pedro Sánchez What is the future of the threat US President Donald Trump ordered his Treasury Secretary to cut off all trade with Spain on Wednesday, calling the NATO ally "a wasted cause", "a terrible partner," "hopeless," and "bad people" at a press conference alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara."I don't want to do business with them," Trump said. "Don't even talk to them." "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."Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, seated in the room, replied: "Yes, sir."Spain responded calmly to Trump’s aggression. A government spokesperson said Madrid was treating the remarks "calmly and as a matter of course," noting the two countries maintained an "excellent" relationship and that the US actually runs a trade surplus with Spain. "Economic ties are built by private companies, not by governments," the spokesperson added.The EU has also responded to the threats stating that they will 'always' protect member states' interests."We expect the US to honour its commitments under that joint statement as we have honoured ours," EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said, referring to a trade pact signed last year between Brussels and Washington.Trump's outburst was built on three key grievances.Spain is the only NATO member that did not commit last year to spending 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, the target Trump has been pushing across the alliance.
Spain spent 2.1 per cent of GDP on defence in 2025, up from 1.4 per cent in 2021, but far short of what Washington wants. Rutte tried to negotiate with Trump on this stating: "You got Spain to pay 2 per cent. They made a huge step last year." but Trump remained unmoved.Spain refused to allow the US military use of its bases or airspace for American bombing campaigns against Iran, a decision Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made explicitly and publicly. Spain had blocked the use of the Rota and Morón bases for Washington. A US official told Reuters in April that an internal Pentagon email had detailed potential retaliatory measures against NATO allies who did not support the Iran campaign. Spain was near the top of that list.Unlike most European leaders who have tried to soften their posture toward Trump, Sánchez has calculated that criticising the US president plays well domestically, and has continued to do so on numerous occasions. Spain has also been one of the EU's sharpest critics of Israel, with Sánchez repeatedly accusing Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza.This is also not the first time Trump has made this threat.
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