At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump told reporters he had instructed Treasury Secretary Bessent to immediately cut all trade and commercial ties with Spain, calling Spain a poor NATO partner that does not participate in operations or meet funding obligations. Spain's prime minister's office dismissed the threat as 'business as usual', saying Madrid will maintain its excellent social, cultural and economic relations with the United States and does not intend to change them.

2026-07-08

At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump told reporters he had instructed Treasury Secretary Bessent to immediately cut all trade and commercial ties with Spain, calling Spain a poor NATO partner that does not participate in operations or meet funding obligations. Spain's prime minister's office dismissed the threat as 'business as usual', saying Madrid will maintain its excellent social, cultural and economic relations with the United States and does not intend to change them.