US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Spain during a meeting Wednesday in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Trump described Spain as “a horror show” and “a disaster” for refusing to allow the use of military bases in the war against Iran and for not paying NATO dues. “It does not want to pay anything. They think they get everything for free,” the president said.
The president also expressed disappointment with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France for their lack of support in the conflict. Rutte defended European allies in general, although he acknowledged isolated cases of disappointment, and presented graphs on the increase in European military spending.
Trump said he would attend the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 and 8 only because Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be the host. Rutte is scheduled to meet with US lawmakers on Thursday.
