Trump Discusses Excluding Spain From NATO – Row Over Defense Spending

Confrontation over Euros and Defense

On Thursday, a short, sharp sentence from Washington sparked conversation all the way into the cafes of Palma. U.S. President Donald Trump made Spain's refusal to dramatically ramp up its defense spending the topic – and brought up the possibility of an exclusion from the NATO alliance.

At a White House meeting with the Finnish president it became clear: Trump expects from allies not only words, but clearly higher spending. Madrid, however, sticks to a different course. That fuels tensions that on the ground provoke more improvisation than panic.

What Madrid Says

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had already explained that an extremely high spending target for Spain is not practical. Rather than unilaterally investing in armaments, the government wants to keep the budget at around 2.1 percent of GDP and set priorities differently: social benefits, infrastructure, crisis preparedness.

In Mallorca yesterday, in a bar on Plaça de Cort, I overheard several older regulars debating – some found Trump's tone inappropriate, others said Europe must finally act more confidently. No one raised alarms, more head-shakes and mild annoyance.

The Legal Reality

Important to know: NATO has no clear procedure to exclude members. Decisions, sanctions or expulsion are not predefined tools. That makes Trump's proposal mainly symbolic – a threat with political weight, but without a straightforward procedural path.

Militarily, 5 percent of GDP, as some demand, is an unusual requirement; up to now a guideline of two percent had been the target most alliance partners only approached after years.

What This Means for Spain

For Madrid, the debate is uncomfortable but not existential. Spain is embedded in many NATO structures and has good relations with European partners. Domestically, the government uses the issue to explain its priorities: no automatic rearmament at the expense of the welfare state.

For people on the island, the question remains: how much money should go to defense, and how much to everyday life and social programs? The answer reflects a societal attitude that often surfaces here in tapas conversations.

Conclusion

In the short term, everything stays the same: lots of talk, few formal steps. In the long term, however, the push from Washington could put pressure on Brussels and Madrid—depending on how loudly the debate continues in the coming weeks. And yes: in Mallorca people discuss it over café con leche just as in Berlin or Madrid.