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us President donald trump reportedly suggested that spainmembership of nato The alliance should be reconsidered due to inadequate military spending.
The intervention follows an agreement in June where members of the US-backed security pact committed to increasing their defense budgets to 5% of GDP. The move is in line with President Trump’s long-standing demand for European countries to contribute more significantly to their defense.
But the Prime Minister of Spain pedro sanchez Said at the time that he would not commit to the 5% target, calling it “inconsistent with our welfare state and our world vision”.
In an Oval Office meeting with the leader of natoThe second newest member, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, said Trump needed to prevail upon European leaders. spain To promote its commitments to the alliance.
“You guys have to start talking to Spain,” Trump said. “You have to call them and find out why they’re behind.”
He added, “They have no excuse not to do it, but that’s OK. Maybe you should just kick them out of NATO.”
A government source said Spain reaffirmed its commitment to the alliance and appealed for peace, adding that the country is a full member of NATO and meets its capacity targets, just like the United States.
Spain joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1982. The 32-member collective-defense alliance has been in focus since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and launched the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.
Meanwhile, Sweden said it would invest 3.5 billion Swedish crowns ($367.11 million) in more anti-drone systems, citing the growing threat from aerial violations.
A wave of drone sightings has troubled European aviation, raising concerns about hybrid attacks targeting Ukraine’s allies in Europe, although Russia has denied involvement.
“The recent violations and drone sightings are a reminder that aerial threats are becoming a larger part of modern warfare,” Defense Minister Pål Jönsson said on Twitter. “We must defend ourselves against this.”
The minister said the Nordic NATO member will acquire systems to shoot down drones, deploy hunter drones to air bases and install jamming sensors.