Trump floats dropping Spain from Nato alliance
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US President Donald Trump said European leaders need to prevail upon Spain to boost its commitments to Nato.
PHOTO: EPA
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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump suggested on Oct 9 the Nato alliance should weigh throwing Spain out of its membership ranks over a dispute about the Western European nation’s lagging military spending.
Members of the US-backed security alliance agreed in June to sharply increase their military spending to 5 per cent of gross domestic product, delivering on a major priority for Mr Trump, who wants Europeans to spend more on their own defence.
But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at the time that he would not commit to the 5 per cent target
At an Oval Office meeting with the leader of Nato’s second-newest member, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Mr Trump said European leaders need to prevail upon Spain to boost its commitments to the alliance.
“You people are gonna have to start speaking to Spain,” Mr Trump said. “You have to call them and find why are they a laggard.”
He added: “They have no excuse not to do this, but that’s all right. Maybe you should throw ’em out of Nato, frankly.”
Spain reaffirmed its commitment to the alliance and appealed for calm, a government source said, adding that the nation was a full member of Nato and meets its capability targets just as the United States does.
Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1982. The 32-member collective-defence alliance has been in focus since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and launched the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II. REUTERS
