With the undeniable concern posed by Russia, it’s certainly reasonable for European nations to boost their defense budgets. However, numerous countries are grappling with economic difficulties, partially due to tariffs imposed by President Trump. Honestly, it seems unlikely that they would dedicate a full 5 percent of their GDP toward defense anytime soon.
Spain was somewhat candid about its situation, which infuriated the American president.
He called Spain a “laggard” and even threatened to “kick them out of NATO.” More recently, he has promised to penalize Spain by imposing additional tariffs on Spanish exports.
This reaction seems rather odd, especially when the objective should ideally be to enhance the collective defense capabilities of European nations against potential Russian aggression. During his first term, Trump pushed NATO members to boost their spending to 3% of GDP, up from the previous 2 percent target set by Barack Obama.
Interestingly, the U.S. itself is projected to spend 3.4% in 2024, which significantly overshadows NATO defense expenditures. Moreover, many European nations are acquiring American weaponry—not for their own military readiness, but to support Ukraine. It’s a noble cause, but it doesn’t directly strengthen NATO’s overall preparedness.
Trump’s criticism of Spain overlooks its complicated history and the delicate nature of its democratic institutions. My own experience as a diplomat there during the Franco regime—an era that many might find hard to fathom—affords me a unique perspective. I even studied how the U.S. Senate engaged with Spain’s path to democracy while contemplating an elevated military bases agreement.
Back then, the military was often focused narrowly on maintaining a dictatorship, with support from the Guardia Civil, a force that isn’t exactly representative of civilian policing.
They dealt with various uprisings, like those from Basque and Catalan separatists. Acts of terrorism sadly became the norm.
After Franco’s passing in 1975, a number of officials collaborated with Crown Prince Juan Carlos to usher in a democratic monarchy. When I returned to Spain in January 1975, there was noticeable progress—political parties had formed, and elections were being prepared.
Juan Carlos had strong ties with military leaders, which allowed for some generals who were seen as threats to be relocated. Yet that wasn’t all it took. On February 1, 1981, as the new Congress (Cortes) was convening, military forces attempted a coup.
The following day, at the Prime Minister’s request, King Juan Carlos appeared on television, donned a captain’s uniform, and commanded his troops to stand down. To my surprise, they obliged.
Even today, the military and the Guardia present challenges to Spain’s democracy, particularly regarding autonomy aspirations from various regions. Since then, an enormous effort has been made to maintain unity.
Gradually, the military is shifting from a domestic focus toward a more outward-looking perspective with NATO missions. Meanwhile, the Guardia functions primarily as a crime-fighting organization.
Nonetheless, under President Pedro Sánchez, the government is somewhat precarious, relying on several regional parties for support. According to the Economist Intelligence country ratings, the potential for governmental stalemate and collapse before 2027 is quite substantial.
If resources are reallocated from social programs to bolster defense, public unrest may well emerge. The current economic growth rate is modestly above the European average, but maintaining that momentum seems unlikely.
Washington should prioritize reinforcing NATO and its capacity to deter Russian actions. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin appears intent on destabilizing both the EU and NATO. He’s engaging in various efforts—like spreading propaganda, attacking infrastructure, and undermining electoral processes while supporting fringe parties.
Exerting pressure on a fragile democracy like Spain only serves to hinder its contributions to NATO. Similar concerns apply to other NATO members facing significant economic hurdles.
Trump’s harsh criticisms of Spain, the only European nation being straightforward about its reality, seem counterproductive. If he were more informed about Spain’s contemporary history, he might recognize that he’s inadvertently aiding Putin’s agenda instead of our own.
