Podemos Pressures Sánchez on NATO Spending; Government Denies New Deals

Podemos has demanded that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez clarify whether he committed to additional military spending during the NATO summit in Ankara, following claims by US President Donald Trump. The government firmly denies any new commitments, insisting that Trump's remarks referred only to previously announced spending reaching 2% of GDP.

The dispute

• Podemos, led by Ione Belarra, registered a parliamentary question asking Sánchez to confirm if new spending commitments were made. The party criticizes the lack of democratic oversight, stating the government is in a "bellicist" spiral spending money that should go to public services. Source: Infobae
• The government maintains its position that Spain's contribution should be measured by capabilities, not just GDP percentage, and that spending is capped at 2.1% — far below the 5% Trump previously demanded. Source: El Español

The Trump factor

• Trump first attacked Spain as a "terrible ally" and threatened to cut trade, but hours later claimed Spain "redeemed itself" after agreeing to "numerous payments." Source: Infobae
• Moncloa sources describe the reversal as "inexplicable" and suggest Trump may have realized that penalizing Spain through trade was impractical. They note that the conversation between Sánchez and Trump lasted only a few minutes and covered "football and golf." Source: El Español