Trump recommended expelling Spain from NATO for refusing to increase its defense budget.

During a meeting at the White House on Thursday, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, received the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, in what was initially planned as a meeting focused on the possible purchase of Finnish icebreakers.

However, the focus of the meeting quickly shifted when Trump turned his attention to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), harshly criticizing Spain for its resistance to increasing defense spending.

Trump has been a constant critic of the level of military spending by NATO member countries, and at the June summit pushed for member states to increase their military investment to 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a goal far above the previous commitment of 2%.

Although most countries agreed to that goal, Spain was the country that opposed it the most and managed to keep its spending around 2%, arguing that a greater increase would be incompatible with its social welfare model and its worldview, according to the words of the Spanish socialist president, Pedro Sánchez.

This resistance left a lasting impression on Trump, who did not hesitate to label Spain as a "laggard" and even suggested that it should be expelled from NATO. "Maybe they should kick it out of NATO, frankly," he declared. He also accused Spain of taking advantage of other allies and threatened economic retaliation, including tariffs that, according to him, could "blow up its economy."

Finland is one of NATO's most recent members, having joined in April 2023 after decades of neutrality. During the meeting, Trump praised Finland's military strength and reiterated his commitment to the country's defense in the event of Russian aggression.

When asked if he would defend Finland against a possible attack from Russia, Trump replied bluntly: "I would. Yes, I would. They are NATO members." Nevertheless, he downplayed the possibility of a Russian attack, stating that he saw it as "very unlikely" and highlighting Finland's military capability as a deterrent factor.

The meeting also took place in a context of growing tension between Finland and Russia. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, relations between the two countries have deteriorated considerably. In 2024, Finland closed its border with Russia, which extends for 1,340 kilometers (832 miles).

The meeting in the Oval Office once again reflected Trump's ambivalent stance regarding NATO. Although he has sometimes praised the alliance, he has also called it "obsolete" during his first term. However, in this meeting he adopted a more favorable approach toward the bloc, especially when referring to countries that, like Finland, meet their defense commitments according to his standards.

With 32 member countries, NATO has become more relevant after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trump's pressure to increase military spending seeks to strengthen the alliance, but it has caused tensions with some European allies, especially with Spain, which prioritizes its social model over a disproportionate military increase.