Overview
- Trump made the comment in the Oval Office alongside Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, praising Finland’s increases and calling Spain a “laggard.”
- Allies endorsed a 5% of GDP objective in June split between core defense and broader security, but Spain refused to sign on and instead pledged roughly 2–2.1%.
- Spain remains the alliance’s lowest spender at about 1.24–1.3% of GDP, yet Madrid cites troop deployments on NATO missions and support for Ukraine as evidence of its commitment.
- Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Spain is a loyal ally and that officials are not worried by the expulsion talk.
- NATO decisions are consensus-based and the treaty provides no procedure to remove a member, making any expulsion unprecedented and legally unclear.