Trump Says Spain 'Completely Redeemed' After NATO Dispute Over Payments

Donald Trump has claimed that Spain 'completely redeemed' itself by agreeing to an unspecified 'significant payment request' from NATO, hours after he threatened to break commercial ties over defense spending. The comments came aboard Air Force One after the Ankara summit, marking a sharp reversal from earlier clashes with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

What happened

During the summit, Trump called Spain a 'lost cause' and threatened trade sanctions, according to Euronews. But later he stated that Spain 'was very generous today' and had acceded to a payment request. Sánchez, for his part, announced that Spain had reached the NATO target of 2% of GDP for defense spending (up from 1.5% in 2024) and would send troops to Finland. No details were provided on the payment Source: elespanol.

The reaction

Sánchez insisted Spain had 'fulfilled its commitments,' noting the 2% target was met last year Source: euronewses. However, US officials are reportedly drafting a list of Spanish products subject to a potential trade embargo, indicating the threat remains Source: elespanol.

Key points

• Trump's threat: He said he would halt trade if Spain did not pay, but later backtracked, claiming success Source: elespanol.
• Spain's stance: Sánchez rejected earlier demands for 5% of GDP, calling them 'unreasonable' Source: euronewses.
• Uncertainty: The exact nature and amount of the payment remain undisclosed, and Moncloa has not commented .