Fact Check: Trump Criticized Spain for Refusing to Meet NATO's 5% Spending Target
What We Know
During a NATO summit held in The Hague in June 2025, NATO leaders agreed to a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez secured an exemption, stating that Spain would only commit to spending 2.1% of its GDP on defense, which he deemed "sufficient and realistic" (AP News). Following this decision, President Donald Trump criticized Spain, claiming that the country wanted "a little bit of a free ride" and stated that it would "have to pay it back to us on trade" through higher tariffs (New York Times).
Trump's comments came as part of a broader push for NATO allies to increase their defense spending, a demand he has consistently made during his presidency. He expressed frustration over Spain's low defense spending, which was reported to be around 1.28% of GDP prior to the summit (Reuters).
Analysis
The claim that Trump criticized Spain for not meeting NATO's 5% spending target is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Associated Press reported that Trump specifically called out Spain's decision to opt out of the spending target, suggesting that Spain was seeking to avoid its financial responsibilities within NATO (AP News). The New York Times corroborated this by detailing Trump's remarks about Spain wanting to take advantage of the situation and his threats regarding trade tariffs (New York Times).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a history of accurate reporting on international relations and defense issues. The Associated Press and New York Times are known for their rigorous fact-checking processes and journalistic integrity. Additionally, the context provided by these articles aligns with Trump's historical stance on NATO spending, further validating the claims made.
However, it is important to note that while Trump criticized Spain, the specific mechanisms through which he could impose tariffs or other penalties were not clearly defined, as the trade negotiations were primarily with the European Union as a whole, not individual member states (Axios).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump criticized Spain for refusing to meet NATO's 5% spending target is True. Evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms that Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Spain's defense spending decisions and suggested that Spain would face repercussions in trade negotiations as a result. The context of his comments aligns with his ongoing demands for increased military spending from NATO allies.
