Trump orders halt to US trade with Spain — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with Spain, a media report said. Trump made the remarks at the opening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, saying he no longer wished to conduct any trade with Spain, Reuters reported. He described Madrid as “a very bad partner” within NATO. Referring to Spain’s opposition to NATO’s new target of allocating five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to defence spending, Trump said: “Spain agrees to nothing, and you should not have to carry the burden.” Turning to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump said: “I don’t want to do any trade with them, all right?” Bessent replied: “Yes, sir.” Trump then added: “Take it immediately. Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless. They’re bad people. They make so much money with us, and we’re going to see that they make a lot less.” According to Reuters, Trump had previously criticised Spain’s Socialist government over its opposition to increased NATO defence spending and its refusal to allow the United States to use Spanish airspace and military bases for operations during the conflict with Iran. The report noted that the United States operates two major military facilities in Spain: Rota Naval Base and Morón Air Base.