TRUMP PROPOSES KICKING SPAIN OUT OF NATO OVER DISAGREEMENTS OVER DEFENSE SPENDING
Begüm SÜRER tarafındanDuring a meeting at the White House with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy by suggesting that Spain should be expelled from NATO due to its refusal to increase defense spending. The dispute traces back to Spain’s rejection of Trump’s demand that all NATO members raise their defense budgets from 2% to 5% of their GDP, a proposal he put forward before the NATO summit in The Hague earlier this year. Trump expressed frustration, stating that the resolution for higher defense contributions passed almost unanimously but was delayed because of Spain’s objections. He remarked, partly in jest, that perhaps Spain should be removed from NATO entirely. Trump’s comments reflect his ongoing criticism of European allies for not sharing what he views as their fair share of defense responsibilities, arguing that the United States should no longer bear the majority of NATO’s financial and military burden.
The meeting also included discussions on strengthening U.S.–Finnish cooperation, with the two leaders finalizing a $6.1 billion deal for the sale of 11 medium-sized icebreaker ships to Finland, the first of which is expected to be delivered by 2028. Despite the sharp remarks toward Spain, the atmosphere of the meeting was described as friendly, with lighter moments that included mentions of Trump’s potential nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize. The timing of Trump’s statement comes amid heightened security concerns in Europe following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has already prompted most NATO members to increase military spending. His remarks reignited debate within the alliance about unity, burden-sharing, and whether such aggressive rhetoric might undermine NATO cohesion at a time of mounting global instability.
Begüm SÜRER
