Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on NATO ally Spain, ordering officials to cut trade ties with Madrid as he accused the country of failing to support the alliance \u2014 while declaring the Iran ceasefire \u201cover\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US President delivered the extraordinary warning during a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he renewed his criticism of allies over defence spending.<\/p>\n
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Mr Trump ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to end trade with Spain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, I\u2019d like you to cut it up. Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don\u2019t participate, they don\u2019t pay. I don\u2019t want anything to do with Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cCut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits. I don\u2019t want to do any more trade with them. Take it immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more related news:<\/p>\n
Zelensky warns NATO is running out of time as \u2018protection is needed today, not years from now\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n The comments mark a dramatic escalation in Trump\u2019s long-running criticism of NATO members that fail to meet his demands on defence spending.<\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly accused European allies of relying too heavily on the United States for their security while contributing too little financially.<\/p>\n At the summit, he said he planned to raise his concerns with NATO leaders, including disputes over defence spending and Greenland<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGreenland is a big problem for us,\u201d he said, repeating his view that the Arctic territory \u2014 currently part of NATO ally Denmark \u2014 should become part of the United States.<\/p>\n Despite Trump\u2019s<\/a> criticism, NATO chief Mark Rutte insisted Washington remained fully committed to the alliance.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is complete commitment from the United States to NATO,\u201d Rutte said.<\/p>\n He added that European allies and Canada were expected to increase their defence spending to match US levels, arguing it was \u201cfair\u201d.<\/p>\n The President also delivered a stark warning over Iran, saying the fragile ceasefire had collapsed following renewed strikes in the Middle East<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is over,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to deal with them anymore. They\u2019re scum.\u201d<\/p>\n He accused Tehran of dishonesty and said negotiations were no longer worthwhile.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll speak to our negotiators, they want to negotiate, they\u2019re good people. But as far as I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s just a waste of time dealing with them. They\u2019re liars.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump added: \u201cThey\u2019re cuckoo. As far as I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump also criticised Britain after claiming the UK initially refused<\/a> a US request to use bases during military operations against Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United Kingdom wouldn\u2019t let us use the island for two weeks, so we had to fly back,\u201d he told Rutte.<\/p>\n The comments came as Trump prepared for further discussions with NATO leaders, with tensions over defence spending, Iran and Greenland dominating the summit.<\/p>\n The extraordinary confrontation risks deepening tensions<\/a> within the alliance at a critical moment, with NATO members facing pressure to strengthen their defences amid growing concerns over Russia.<\/p>\n