Trump claims to cut off trade with Spain

Xinhua News Agency, Ankara/Madrid, July 8 (Reporter Zhang Zhaoqing and Wang Tengfei) -- At the NATO Summit held in Ankara, Türkiye's capital, on July 8, President Trump accused Spain of being NATO's "bad partner" and said that he would "cut off all trade with Spain". The Spanish government responded that Spain has no intention of changing this relationship.

 

Trump made the above statement during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Rutte on the same day. He accused Spain of insufficient defense spending, criticized Spain for not supporting the United States' attack on Iran, "not participating in or paying" in NATO affairs, and stated that he had instructed US Treasury Secretary Vicente to suspend all trade relations with Spain.

 

According to reports from the Spanish Prime Minister's Palace of Moncloa cited by media such as the Spanish Broadcasting Corporation, the Spanish government has "calmly viewed" Trump's remarks and stated that the relationship between Spain and the United States is good, and the Spanish side has "no intention of changing this relationship".

 

European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told the media at a regular press conference on the same day that the European Commission will always fully safeguard the interests of the European Union and all its member states, and looks forward to the United States fulfilling its commitments under the US-EU trade agreement.

 

Trump has criticized Spain for not agreeing to the NATO target of increasing military spending to 5% of gross domestic product, and for rejecting the use of its military bases by the United States in this military operation against Iran, stating that Spain's attitude is unfriendly. The Spanish Prime Minister's Office previously stated that Spain has reached an agreement with NATO to allocate 2.1% of its gross domestic product funds to the defense sector.

 

(Editor in charge: Ma Changyan)