Trump Praises Finland’s NATO Role but Slams Spain Over Defense Spending:

In what was meant to be a routine diplomatic meeting to discuss the potential purchase of Finnish icebreaker ships, former U.S. President Donald Trump instead used the occasion to revisit a familiar target — NATO defense spending, particularly calling out Spain for not meeting his expectations. Hosting Finnish President Alexander Stubb in the Oval Office, Trump quickly shifted the conversation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), where tensions have flared over defense budget contributions. Trump, who has often criticized NATO allies for what he calls unequal burden-sharing, took direct aim at Spain, accusing it of falling short on military funding. At the June NATO summit, Spain pushed back against Trump’s call for all member nations to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP — more than double the current 2% guideline. While most NATO countries agreed to reassess their budgets, Spain successfully argued for an exemption, keeping its target closer to the existing benchmark. That decision clearly didn’t sit well with Trump, who told reporters during the Oval Office meeting, “We had one laggard. It was Spain. Spain. You have to call them and find out: Why are they a laggard?” He went even further, suggesting Spain might face consequences for its resistance: “Maybe you should throw them out of NATO, frankly.” The sharp criticism came in contrast to Trump’s warm reception of Finland’s leaders, President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Trump praised Finland’s military strength and its recent NATO membership. Finland joined the alliance in April 2023, a move largely driven by growing concerns over Russian aggression following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Finland has a very powerful military, one of the best,” Trump said, reinforcing U.S. support for the Nordic country. When asked how he would respond if Russia attacked Finland, Trump answered without hesitation: “I would. Yes, I would. They’re a member of NATO.” Pressed further on how, he simply said: “Vigorously.” This show of support reflects the deepening ties between the U.S. and Finland. The two leaders had previously met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in March, and Thursday’s Oval Office visit only strengthened their cooperation, especially in light of Russia’s continuing threats in the region. Finland shares an 841-mile border with Russia and has closed it entirely due to security concerns. However, Trump’s tone shifted again when addressing Spain. He criticized its refusal to meet the 5% defense goal, describing its stance as “hostile” and accusing the country of taking a “free ride.” He even warned that Spain could face increased tariffs from the U.S. if it doesn’t step up. “I think Spain is terrible, what they’ve done,” he said. “That economy could be blown right out of the water.” While NATO has never expelled a member since its founding in 1949, Trump’s comments signal that internal divisions over defense spending could become more politically charged in the future — especially if he returns to office.

NEWS