President Trump Criticizes Allies on Iran and NATO Spending
President Donald Trump spoke to the press alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where he shared news about a significant military operation against Iran. He also announced that he was suspending trade with Spain due to its failure to meet defense commitments.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned that Trump has effectively “won the debate” regarding NATO spending, acknowledging that U.S. pressure has prompted Canada and European allies to increase their financial contributions to the alliance’s security measures. During the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Carney conveyed to Trump that NATO members are recognizing the necessity of boosting military budgets in response to the growing security threats from Russia.
“It’s not just that he’s winning arguments; he’s winning arguments,” Carney told reporters, highlighting that countries are becoming aware of their responsibility as they face direct threats.
Carney remarked that Trump’s persistent push for allies to ramp up defense spending is yielding positive results. “The president is looking to shift the burden within NATO, and that’s appropriate,” he added. “It’s happening. It’s gaining momentum.”
This shift in Carney’s tone is notable, considering he has often been critical of Trump on various fronts, including trade and tariffs. Since he assumed office, Carney has frequently expressed discontent over Trump’s tariffs impacting Canadian goods and Trump’s suggestion that Canada might become the 51st U.S. state.
In a speech a few years back, Carney accused Trump of imposing “unfair tariffs,” stating: “He is attacking Canadian families, workers, and businesses. We cannot and will not allow him to succeed.” He also indicated that Canada would maintain retaliatory tariffs until “America shows us respect.”
Despite past disagreements, Carney acknowledged Trump’s role in encouraging NATO allies to boost defense budgets. He conveyed this message directly to Trump during a phone call before the summit.
“The president is here, and he seems to be in good spirits,” Carney noted.
At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, leaders agreed on a new goal to allocate 5% of GDP towards defense and security by 2035, more than double the previous standard of 2%. This commitment followed Trump’s years of criticism towards NATO allies, warning that some were not contributing their fair share and sometimes suggesting a withdrawal of U.S. support if spending didn’t increase significantly.
However, the alliance lacks a formal means to compel countries to comply with these spending targets. So, Trump appears to be relying increasingly on U.S. economic influence to pressure less powerful allies.
This past Wednesday, Trump specifically criticized Spain for not committing to the 5% spending goal, labeling it a “terrible partner for NATO” and urging a halt to trade and tourism with the nation. Spain maintains that it can fulfill NATO’s military requirements while only spending about 2.1% of its GDP on defense.
Larger nations, including the UK and France, have also expressed intentions to move towards the 5% target, yet their current spending remains significantly below that level. This raises questions about how assertively the Trump administration will push other key allies to increase their defense expenditures.
NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker mentioned that the Trump administration is considering strategies against nations that don’t meet the 5% benchmark.
NATO Secretary-General Rutte supported Carney’s comments, declaring that Trump has succeeded where past administrations have not—equalizing defense expenditures between Europe and the United States.
In the lead-up to the summit, Canada outlined new defense investments, including a submarine procurement initiative, a partnership to utilize Telesat’s Lightspeed satellite for secure Arctic communications, and an $800 million contract for joint strike missiles for future Canadian fighter jets.
Carney stated that when he took office, Canada was spending roughly 1.4% of its GDP on defense and is on track to hit 4% by the end of 2023, according to NATO standards.
These discussions come as Trump reiterates his point that NATO countries are too reliant on U.S. defense and must contribute more to collective security.
