By Humeyra Pamuk and David Latona
ANKARA/MADRID, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with NATO ally Spain, escalating tensions over defence spending and the Iran war, despite European Union rules requiring trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc.
During a NATO summit in Ankara, which European leaders had hoped would cap rifts within the military alliance, Trump reignited the dispute with Spain, calling it a "terrible partner", and made renewed claims on Greenland, although he later changed tack and said there had been love and "a lot of unity" at the gathering.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez played down the rift and said he had a "very cordial" conversation with Trump during the summit.
It was the second time Trump has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt commerce with Spain over its refusal to commit to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP. However, after his first such promise in March, trade between the two countries continued normally.
ANKARA/MADRID, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with NATO ally Spain, escalating tensions over defence spending and the Iran war, despite European Union rules requiring trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc.
During a NATO summit in Ankara, which European leaders had hoped would cap rifts within the military alliance, Trump reignited the dispute with Spain, calling it a "terrible partner", and made renewed claims on Greenland, although he later changed tack and said there had been love and "a lot of unity" at the gathering.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez played down the rift and said he had a "very cordial" conversation with Trump during the summit.
It was the second time Trump has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt commerce with Spain over its refusal to commit to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP. However, after his first such promise in March, trade between the two countries continued normally.
1 month ago
