Merz Refuses to Defend Spain as Trump Criticizes Madrid

RunWithRugs · 2026-03-04T20:19:16+00:00

Friedrich Merz criticized Spain's defense spending during a meeting with Trump, who labeled Spain a poor ally due to its refusal to host US aircraft and meet NATO's 5% GDP defense goal. Spain defended its resources and urged the US to uphold trade agreements.

RunWithRugs

2026-03-04 20:19:16

Abstract generation in progress

(MENAFN) Friedrich Merz declined to defend Spain while US President Donald Trump criticized Madrid over its refusal to host American aircraft for the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Instead of supporting Spain, Merz reiterated NATO messaging, highlighting the country’s failure to meet the alliance’s goal of 5% of GDP in annual defense spending. Trump described Spain as a “terrible” ally and cited its reluctance to increase military expenditure.

“We are trying to convince Spain to catch up,” Merz said during a meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday. “As the president said, it’s correct – Spain is the only one not willing to accept that. We are trying to convince them that this is part of our common security, that we all have to comply with these numbers. So Spain has to comply with that.”

Last year, Pedro Sanchez rejected the 5% defense spending pledge as “unreasonable.”

On Tuesday, the Spanish government stated that it possesses “the necessary resources to contain the possible impact of the trade embargo” and urged the US to honor its trade agreement with the EU. A European Commission spokesperson, Olof Gill, said the bloc would ensure that its interests are “fully protected.”

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