US President Donald Trump has suggested that NATO consider expelling Spain from its ranks over a dispute over the delay in the increase in military spending by the Western European country, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Members of the US-backed security alliance agreed in June to significantly increase their military spending to 5% of gross domestic product, fulfilling one of Trump's top priorities, who wants Europeans to spend more on their own defense.
But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at the time that he would not commit to the 5% target, calling it "incompatible with our welfare state and our vision of the world".
In an Oval Office meeting with the leader of NATO's second-newest member, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Trump said that European leaders should persuade Spain to increase its commitments to the alliance.
"You're going to have to start talking to Spain," Trump said. "You have to call them and find out why they're late."
The US president added: "They have no excuse not to do it, but there's nothing wrong with it. Maybe you should kick them out of NATO, honestly.
Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1982. The 32-member collective defense alliance has been in the spotlight since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, starting the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.
During the call with Stubb, Trump also said that his administration could impose more sanctions on Russia.
"Maybe", Trump said when a White House reporter asked him if he planned more sanctions on Russia.
Trump also said that the United States has no plans to withdraw American forces from Europe.
"As you know, we have a lot of troops in Europe, a lot, and we can move them around a little bit, but basically we're going to stay, pretty much in the same place,", said Trump.