Reluctant To Increase Defense Budget, President Trump Threatens To Impose Sanctions On Spain

President Trump. (Twitter/@WhiteHouse)

JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to impose trade sanctions, including tariffs, on Spain.

President Trump said he was unhappy with Spain's refusal to increase the defense budget to 5 percent, calling it disrespectful of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"I am very unhappy with Spain. They are the only country that doesn't increase their budget by 5 percent. So I'm not happy with Spain," President Trump told reporters at the White House.

"I think to give them trade sanctions through rates for what they have done, and I think I might do it," added President Trump.

It is known that President Trump has repeatedly urged NATO members to increase their own defense budget and cast doubt on Washington's willingness to help members who do not spend enough budget.

When meeting with Finnish President last week, he said that NATO should consider removing Spain from the alliance because of its refusal to approve the new commitment.

Citing the huge threat Russia has posed since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO members argue that their previous spending commitment of 2 percent of GDP is no longer adequate.

Spain is the only member of the 32-member alliance that is not committed to increasing military spending by 5 percent of GDP.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S waychez managed to get an exception in the last minute, saying Spain would only spend up to 2.1 ersen, which he called "sufficient and realistic."

Madrid, which joined the alliance in 1982 argues they compensate for the lower spending with large troop contributions to NATO missions, including placements in Latvia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.