Pedro Sánchez meets Donald Trump at NATO summit in Ankara

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez attended the NATO summit in Ankara and defended Spain’s defence‑spending approach, saying the country can meet NATO commitments with a 2 % of GDP target despite a wider push for a 5 % goal. After U.S. President Donald Trump labeled Spain a “lost cause” and threatened to cut commercial ties, Sánchez said he had a friendly, informal conversation with Trump at the summit, noting they talked about the World Cup being held in the United States and about golf. Sánchez stressed that bilateral relations between Spain and the United States remain positive and that any trade issues would be addressed at the EU level, not individually.

The Spanish government’s position was presented as a diplomatic effort to reassure allies while maintaining its own fiscal priorities on defence spending.