Trump Orders Halt on Spain Trade Over NATO Disputes
President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to sever all commercial ties with Spain, condemning the nation as a «terrible partner» for failing to meet new NATO defence spending targets.
The abrupt directive was issued to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday during a press conference in Turkey. Standing alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump cited Madrid’s refusal to contribute a mandated 5% of its gross domestic product to the military alliance and its lack of cooperation in the ongoing Iran war.
Spain’s Socialist government previously denied American forces access to its airspace and military bases for operations related to the Middle Eastern conflict.
When the president instructed his treasury secretary to immediately halt commerce and communication with the European nation, Bessent publicly agreed to the order.
EU trade rules complicate directives
Trump expressed severe frustration with Madrid’s diplomatic positions, urging Rutte not to «carry» the country within the alliance. The president characterised the Spanish leadership as «hopeless» and declared his intention to eliminate their financial gains from American markets.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, completely halting commerce with a single European Union member state presents significant legal hurdles. As a participant in the EU’s customs union, individual nations cannot be isolated in global trade agreements. Any embargo directed solely at Spain would directly clash with the broader economic policies of the entire bloc.
A spokesman for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the president’s remarks, indicating the government is treating the situation as business as usual. The official noted that Spain maintains excellent social, cultural and economic relations with the U.S.
The U.S. exported $26.6 bn in goods to Spain last year, resulting in a $5.2 bn trade surplus. This economic relationship is relatively small compared to American commerce with Britain, which saw $97.3 bn in U.S. exports and a $32.6 bn surplus in 2025.
