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Washington and Madrid have been at loggerheads, with Spain explicitly rejecting Trump\u2019s demands for European countries to sharply increase military spending and pay for their own defense. Madrid\u2019s Socialist leadership has also refused to let the U.S. use its airspace or bases on its territory for the Iran war.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpain is a wasted cause. We don\u2019t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cBy the way, I\u2019d like to cut it off. Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don\u2019t participate, they don\u2019t pay. I don\u2019t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, the office of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was treating Trump\u2019s statements as business as usual, adding that bilateral relations benefited both countries.<\/p>\n
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia was more blunt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a sovereign, democratic country that defends multilateralism and peace,\u201d she said on X. \u201cWhat\u2019s terrible is confusing diplomacy with bullying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about Trump\u2019s remarks, a NATO diplomat said: \u201cThe answer to every question POTUS raises is clear: build a more European NATO. That\u2019s what we\u2019re doing in Ankara.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump calls Iran \u2018sick people\u2019<\/p>\n
The U.S. has unleashed new military strikes on Iran and revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil in response to attacks on three tankers. It was the latest blow to a fragile ceasefire agreement in a war that is deeply unpopular in Europe.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very interesting question. To me, I think it\u2019s over. I don\u2019t want to deal with them,\u201d Trump said when asked whether the interim accord with Iran that envisaged hammering out a long-term peace deal by mid-August was over. \u201cThey\u2019re scum. They\u2019re sick people. They\u2019re led by sick people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, it\u2019s just a waste of time dealing with them,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Rutte defended the new U.S. strikes and played down Trump\u2019s disappointment with allies over the Iran war as \u201cisolated cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what you did last night was absolutely necessary. It was a very strong response,\u201d Rutte told Trump. \u201cWhen you have a ceasefire and Iran is basically violating the ceasefire, I think it is totally crucial that the U.S. forcefully react.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also praised Trump for making European countries raise their game on defense spending.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important when it comes to NATO, what you have achieved, and this is a huge win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trump has accused European nations of failing to let U.S. forces use their airspace and bases on their territories during the war.<\/p>\n
European officials have said they largely honored their commitments to U.S. forces, despite not having been consulted about a conflict that roiled their economies.<\/p>\n
Trump also demanded that his country control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, reviving an issue that has put severe strain on the alliance<\/a> that has underpinned Western security since the start of the Cold War.<\/p>\n \u201cGreenland is very important for the United States, but it\u2019s not important for Denmark,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact, when Denmark was overrun by the Nazis in less than one day – Hitler beat them out in one day, took over – they asked us to take care of Greenland. In fact, we took Greenland, and then stupidly we gave it back.\u201d<\/p>\n