During a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this Wednesday, Donald Trump launched one of his most severe verbal attacks against Spain, dubbing the country a "lost cause." He went so far as to verbally instruct his Treasury Secretary to immediately halt all bilateral trade.
The comments were made during a meeting with Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General, prior to the main session of the summit, with media present in the room.
"I haven't talked to Spain. Spain is a lost cause. I don't want to do any more business with Spain ever again; I'd like to cut it off. Spain is a terrible ally in NATO. They don't participate, they don't pay, and I don't want anything to do with Spain," stated the U.S. President.
Addressing Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, Trump was even more explicit: "Cut all global trade with Spain, including visits. We don't want anything to do with them."
He added, "Don't even talk to them; they have no solution. They're bad people."
The President also predicted that Spain would eventually relent: "We'll see them come running back."
He concluded, "Let's see how long their hostility lasts when they call saying, 'Please, we want to trade with you, sir.'"
Later, during the day's final press conference, Trump criticized Madrid once more for its stance on the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran: "Spain has performed very poorly. They haven't helped us, even though we didn't need them. That's against the spirit of Churchill."
It's worth noting that Trump didn't issue any written orders, nor did his administration make any official announcements; as usual, he made these remarks to the media.
The Origin of the Crisis
The trigger for this escalation is the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez refusing to authorize the use of Rota and Morón military bases for Operation Epic Fury, a joint offensive by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, which Spain deemed "illegal."
Additionally, Spain has resisted raising defense spending to 5% of GDP as demanded by Trump, despite reaching 2% of GDP in 2025.
Trump had already threatened to cut off trade with Spain in March and even suggested in October 2025 to expel the country from the Atlantic Alliance.
Bilateral trade between the U.S. and Spain amounts to approximately $46 billion annually, with Spanish exports accounting for around $16 billion.
Moreover, Spain imports between 40% and 44% of its liquefied gas from the United States, making any disruption particularly sensitive.
Sánchez's Perspective: "All Good Words and Friendliness"
The stark contrast between Trump's harshness and the Spanish President's account was striking.
In his press conference from Ankara, Sánchez revealed that he had an informal conversation with Trump—occurring after Trump had publicly attacked Spain—where he sensed no tension whatsoever.
"We talked about soccer, about the World Cup in the United States. It was an informal, casual chat. There was absolutely no friction. On the contrary, it was all good words and friendliness," stated the Spanish president.
Sánchez asserted that the government approaches Trump's statements "with calm and patience" and within "a certain normality," arguing that bilateral relations are "very positive socially, culturally, economically, and politically."
Despite appearing in the official summit photo, there was no public interaction between the two leaders.
European Response
The European Commission urged Washington to adhere to its trade commitments with the bloc, warning that it will ensure the interests of the EU and all its member states "are fully protected."
This stance from Brussels serves as Spain's primary shield against Trump's threats, given that foreign trade falls under community competence, and any retaliation would have to confront all twenty-seven member states, not just Madrid.
Impact of Trump's Remarks on Spain-U.S. Relations
What triggered Trump's verbal attack on Spain?
The escalation was sparked by Spain's refusal to allow the use of its military bases for a joint U.S.-Israel operation against Iran, which Spain deemed "illegal."
What could be the economic impact of cutting trade between the U.S. and Spain?
Bilateral trade amounts to approximately $46 billion annually. A disruption could significantly impact Spain, which imports a large portion of its liquefied gas from the U.S.
How did the European Union respond to Trump's threats?
The European Commission urged the U.S. to respect its trade commitments, emphasizing it will protect the interests of the EU and its member states.