“I will personally negotiate with Spain, they will pay more!” Trump threatens Madrid, who refuses to increase his expenses to defense to 5% of GDP
“You know, we negotiate with Spain a commercial agreement. We will make them pay twice as much,” said US president at the NATO summit in The Hague.
Donald Trump criticized Spain, who chose to make the exception of increasing defense expenses, agreed by all other NATO allies.
“It is terrible what they did,” Trump told the press conference that followed the NATO summit in The Hague.
“You are the only country that does not pay. I do not know what the problem is,” he continued, talking to the Spanish journalist who asked him a question on this topic.
He threatened at the same time that Spain will pay in another way.
Trump says he will use commercial agreement
“You know, we negotiate with Spain a commercial agreement. We will make them pay twice as much. And I speak seriously,” said Trump, with reference to the customs duties with which Europe has threatened.
“Spain is the only country, of all the countries that refuse to … so they want to take advantage of a little, but they will have to pay us back through the trade, because I will not allow this to happen.” Trump said.
Later, after another question on the same topic, Trump even assured, in a seemingly joking tone, that he will negotiate with Spain.
“I will do it personally. In this way, they will pay more money,” he said.
“You should tell them to come back and pay. You are a journalist, tell them to return, they should join all countries paying 5%,” said US President.
Spain says he has other priorities
The officials of the Madrid government have repeatedly rejected the increase of military expenses, noting that Spain will have problems with financing other priorities, such as social allowances.
The Spanish socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, who rejected this proposal, describing it as “not only irrational, but also counterproductive,” announced on Sunday in front of the press the compromise he obtained.
Thus, he said, Spain will allocate 2.1% of GDP, “no more, no less”, estimating that this level of military expenses will be sufficient to fulfill its obligations to NATO.
A percentage of 5% of GDP for defense would be “disproportionate, unnecessary” and incompatible with ensuring social benefits, explained the Spanish Prime Minister.
“The emperor is empty”
Sources within the Spanish government approached the day of the anticipated conflict with Trump on the day of the summit, saying for the daily El Pais that many think like Madrid actually.
“Of course we are a problem for Trump, because we are the only ones who say aloud that the emperor is empty, even if many others think the same, and we clearly oppose the absurd expenses that he wants to impose on us,” said a source quoted by the Spanish newspaper.
According to El Pais, the Spanish government insists that the solution is not to spend more, but to spend better, in a more coordinated and innovative way.
And by 2029, when a review will take place, Trump should no longer be at the White House, if the US Constitution is respected.
