By Evaristo Lara
President Donald Trump is still aware that Spain refused to support his military offensive in Iran and unexpectedly criticized his government for the way it manages its economy.
At the end of March, The government of Spain ordered the closure of its airspace to United States flights participating in the military operation against the Islamic Republic and also reiterated its refusal to lend its Rota and Morón air bases for this purpose.
“Spain is not going to authorize in any case (…) the use of the Rota and Morón bases to go to a war against which we are totally against, in which we do not believe, which seems deeply illegal and deeply unjust,” Pedro Sánchez, Spanish president, said in a statement.
Given this position, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, warned that he could “review” his relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
“If NATO is just about us defending Europe while they deny us basing rights when we need them, then it is not a very good agreement. We will have to review all of this,” he warned.
Donald Trump even threatened to end the trade relationship with Madrid and impose a trade embargo on the Iberian nation.since from their perspective it meant a “monstrous partner” of the Atlantic Alliance due to its reluctance to make a commitment to increase its defense spending by 5%.
Although none of that has happened, Trump once again ranted against Spain and, through a publication on the Truth Social platform, reiterated that his contribution to NATO is insignificant compared to the protection benefits he obtains from being one of its members.
“Has anyone noticed how bad things are going for Spain? Its economic figures, despite contributing practically nothing to NATO or its military defense, are absolutely disastrous. It’s very sad to see!” he wrote.
Although last summer, NATO members agreed to increase their defense spending from 2% to 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), President Pedro Sánchez anticipated that it would not reach that level because he considers being able to meet the military capabilities objective with a rotten budget, of just over 2% of his GDP.
Keep reading:
• White House proposes reviewing relationship with NATO after Spain’s refusal to support war with Iran
• Spain closes airspace to US planes in war with Iran
• Sheinbaum respects Spain’s decision to deny the US using military bases for attacks against Iran
