Trump brands Spain a 'wasted cause' and orders trade cut-off

Trump brands Spain a 'wasted cause' and orders trade cut-off

President Donald Trump has ordered a total cessation of trade and tourism with Spain, labeling the NATO ally a wasted cause and a terrible partner. Speaking Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Ankara, Turkey, during the alliance's annual summit, the president directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to take immediate action to end business ties with the nation.

The escalation follows a series of disputes over military spending and strategic cooperation. Trump singled out Spain for refusing to commit to a new NATO defense spending benchmark that requires allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. While other members backed the target, Spain was the only alliance member to publicly reject committing to the full amount, instead negotiating flexibility for its capability goals.

Beyond spending, Trump cited Spain's restrictions on U.S. Operations during the war with Iran as a primary grievance. Earlier in 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an extraordinary mistake and urged de-escalation. Consequently, Spain refused to allow the U.S. To use the jointly operated Morón Air Base and Rota Naval Base for offensive operations under Operation Epic Fury, arguing that the strikes lacked international legal backing.

The president's rhetoric at the summit was blunt.

"Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,"

Donald Trump, President of the United States, via NY Post

Addressing Treasury Secretary Bessent directly, Trump commanded: Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits… Watch them come running back. He further described the country as hopeless and bad people, adding that he wanted no business with them because they don’t participate, they don’t pay.

The move targets a significant economic relationship. In 2025, the two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the United States exported about $26 billion in energy products, machinery, chemicals, and aerospace equipment to Spain, while importing about $21 billion in pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, vehicles, and food products.

The office of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who dined with Trump in Ankara on Tuesday night, downplayed the threats as a matter of routine and business as usual. In a response, Madrid noted that the U.S. Currently runs a trade surplus with Spain. Spanish officials also emphasized that the European Union operates as a customs and trade union, meaning the European Commission handles economic relations for its 27 members and individual states cannot be singled out. Furthermore, the office stated that economic ties are fostered by private companies rather than governments.

Implementing such restrictions would be an exceptional move. Last year, nearly 4.5 million Americans visited Spain; currently, the U.S. Government only bans travel to North Korea. Legal hurdles also loom, as a Supreme Court ruling in February limited the president's authority to temporarily impose tariffs, and any long-term trade actions would likely face challenges in court.

The friction with Spain is part of a broader critique of the alliance. Trump told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the U.S. Was being treated unfairly, claiming Washington spent a trillion dollars to protect NATO countries from Russia while the alliance failed to support the U.S. Against Iran. He also described Greenland as a big problem for us.

Turning his attention to Iran, Trump declared that the memorandum of understanding that previously halted fighting is over. He asserted that he has eliminated the entire Iranian leadership and dismantled its navy and army, though he noted that Iran had attacked ships belonging to other countries and Saudi Arabia just one day prior.

As the summit continues, the White House and Treasury Department have not yet released formal details on how trade or travel restrictions would be enforced. Internal Pentagon emails from April reportedly suggested options for punishing allies who failed to support the Iran war, including the possibility of suspending Spain from NATO.