Trump Orders Halt to All Trade with Spain

Ankara. US President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to immediately stop all trade relations with Spain. Trump made this announcement while talking to journalists alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey.

He clarified that he had ordered US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to immediately sever all commercial and business relations with Spain. Trump accused them of being a 'bad partner' of NATO, saying they neither participate nor pay money to NATO.

Trump is expressing strong dissatisfaction at the Ankara summit, stating that NATO member states did not provide sufficient support to the US during the war with Iran. Earlier, in March, Spain had announced that it would not allow the use of its military bases for the military campaign against Iran.

Spain had also closed its airspace to US aircraft involved in the war. Against this backdrop, Trump has taken a tough stance against Spain.

NATO chief Rutte, sitting next to Trump, argued that European airports were flying 5,000 aircraft in support of the US campaign, making Europe a platform for power projection for America. However, Trump disagreed with Rutte's statement, retorting that Britain did not allow the use of all its military bases and Italy also played a very bad role in providing bases and supporting America.

The office of the Prime Minister of Spain has reacted to Trump's sudden order to stop trade with Spain. Madrid has taken the US threat lightly.

In an official statement issued by the Prime Minister's office of Spain, it said, 'Our country has excellent social, cultural, and economic relations with America, and we have no intention of changing them.'