President Donald Trump has disrupted a NATO summit in Ankara after calling Spain a “terrible partner” and ordering a halt to trade ties with Madrid, while reviving his demand for US
control of Greenland.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Mr Trump accused Spain of failing to contribute enough to the alliance and criticised its refusal to support US military operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
“Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,” Mr Trump said. He added that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to end trade with the country, including business and visits.
The comments overshadowed efforts by NATO leaders to present a united front at the summit, where European allies had hoped to focus on support for Ukraine and new defence commitments.
Before the meeting, several European countries announced major defence initiatives aimed at increasing military spending and strengthening the alliance. However, Mr Trump’s remarks renewed divisions over burden-sharing and the role of the US within NATO.
A source familiar with the discussions said Mr Trump did not repeat his criticism of Spain during private talks and instead indicated that the US wanted to remain part of the alliance.
The White House has not immediately commented on his public remarks.
Dispute With Madrid
Relations between Washington and Madrid have deteriorated in recent months after Spain rejected calls from Mr Trump for European NATO members to significantly increase defence spending.
The Spanish government has also refused to allow US forces to use Spanish airspace or military facilities for operations connected to the Iran conflict.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain viewed the comments as part of ongoing political disagreements but stressed that relations between the two countries remained important.
Spanish Health Minister Mónica García criticised the president’s remarks, saying: “We are a sovereign, democratic country that defends multilateralism and peace. What is terrible is confusing diplomacy with bullying.”
Financial markets reacted negatively, with Spanish stocks and government bonds coming under pressure following Mr Trump’s statements.
Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Over
The NATO meeting was also overshadowed by renewed tensions with Iran, after Mr Trump said a fragile ceasefire agreement was effectively finished.
The US has carried out new military strikes against Iran and withdrawn a licence that had allowed Tehran to sell oil, following attacks on three tankers.
Asked about the ceasefire, Mr Trump said: “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them.”
He described Iran’s leadership in highly critical terms and said further negotiations would be a waste of time.
Mr Rutte defended the US response, saying Washington’s actions were necessary after Iran allegedly violated the ceasefire.
“I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary. It was a very strong response,” Mr Rutte told Mr Trump.
The NATO chief also praised the US president for pushing European countries to increase defence spending, describing it as a significant achievement for the alliance.
Greenland Dispute Returns
Mr Trump also reignited a long-running dispute over Greenland, saying the strategically important Arctic territory was vital to US security.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Mr Trump has previously suggested that the US should take control of it.
“Greenland is very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark,” he said.
The comments drew a firm response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said Greenland was not available for purchase or transfer.
“We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory,” she said.
The latest disputes come at a sensitive moment for NATO, with leaders attempting to maintain unity over defence, Ukraine and growing global security challenges.
