Trump demands end to trade with key US ally, calls it a ‘wasted cause’

President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to end U.S. trade with Spain after criticizing the NATO ally for refusing to commit to the alliance’s new defense spending target.

Speaking during the NATO summit, Trump repeatedly singled out Spain, calling the country a “wasted cause” and urging an end to trade with one of America’s European allies.

“Spain is a wasted cause,” Trump said. “We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way.”

Trump went further, saying, “Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits.”

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The president’s comments came after NATO leaders backed a new defense spending benchmark calling on allies to invest 5% of gross domestic product in defense and defense-related expenditures. Spain was the lone member of the alliance to publicly reject committing to the full target, instead negotiating flexibility in how it will meet NATO capability goals.

Trump argued Spain has benefited from the alliance while failing to contribute its fair share.

“They don’t participate, they don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said.

He later added, “I don’t want to do any more trade with him. All right? Take it immediately. Don’t even talk to them.”

Trump also predicted Spain would eventually seek to restore trade ties with the United States.

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“They’re hostile about it, and let’s see how hostile they remain when they call up and they, ‘Please, please, we want to trade with you, sir,'” Trump said. “They make so much money with us, and we’re going to see that they make a lot less. I want no business with them.”

The remarks represent an escalation of Trump’s longstanding criticism of NATO allies that spend less on defense. 

Throughout both of his administrations, Trump has argued that countries failing to meet alliance spending commitments unfairly rely on the United States for their security.

Any effort to significantly restrict trade with Spain, however, could present legal and diplomatic hurdles. Spain is a member of the European Union, which negotiates trade policy as a customs union rather than through separate bilateral trade agreements with individual member states.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing a formal policy or expressing his frustration with Spain’s position on NATO spending. The White House had not immediately provided details on whether the administration is considering trade restrictions targeting Spain.

The U.S. and Spain maintain a significant trading relationship. 

The two countries traded roughly $47 billion in goods in 2025, with the United States exporting about $26 billion worth of goods to Spain and importing about $21 billion from Spain, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Spain exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, food products and vehicles to the U.S., while the United States exports energy products, machinery, aerospace equipment and chemicals to Spain.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Spanish embassy for comment.

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Trump’s criticism of Spain also comes after months of growing friction between Washington and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over national security and foreign policy.

Earlier in 2026, Sánchez condemned the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as an “extraordinary mistake” and called for de-escalation, while Spain refused to allow the U.S. to use the jointly operated Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base to support offensive operations against Iran under Operation Epic Fury. 

Spanish officials argued the strikes lacked international legal backing and said the bases could not be used for unilateral military action.