US President Donald Trump has voiced strong dissatisfaction with Spain for refusing to commit to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP, threatening tariffs as punishment. During a White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump called Spain's stance disrespectful to NATO. Spain secured an exception at the Alliance's June summit to keep spending at 2.1%.
On October 14, 2025, during a White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, Donald Trump reiterated his frustration with Spain for not raising defense spending to the 5% of GDP agreed at NATO's June summit in The Hague. "I'm very unhappy with Spain," Trump stated, adding that it is "the only NATO country that won't raise its military spending to 5%" and that it "has to be punished for that." He threatened tariffs on Spanish products, a measure he had mentioned in June and last week suggested expelling Spain from NATO during a meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The tensions date back to Trump's presidential campaign, when he questioned adherence to NATO's Article 5 for countries failing spending targets. After returning to the White House in January 2025, he raised the goal to 5% over the next decade, a level no member of the 32-nation Alliance, including the United States, has yet reached. Spain, which allocated 2.1% of GDP to defense in 2025—a 43.11% increase from 2024, reaching 33.123 million euros—secured an exception via a letter from President Pedro Sánchez to Secretary General Mark Rutte. Sánchez argued that 5% would be "unreasonable" and "incompatible with our welfare state."
The Spanish government maintains it meets Military Capabilities Objectives and participates in NATO missions in Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. It also hosts US bases in Rota and Morón, where thousands of American troops are stationed. Washington's NATO ambassador, Matt Whitakker, insisted there are "no exceptions." NATO will review compliance in 2029. Moncloa sources downplayed Trump's remarks, recalling a cordial meeting in Egypt the previous day.