President Donald Trump called Spain a "horrible ally" and threatened to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets during a NATO summit this week.

The dispute signals a deepening rift between the U.S. and a key European partner over military contributions and the procurement of advanced weaponry.

Speaking in Ankara, Turkey, during the 36th NATO summit held July 7–8 [2], Trump said the Spanish government refused to meet specific financial targets. The U.S. president warned that the United States could halt the purchase of F-35 aircraft because Spain has not raised its defense spending to five percent of its GDP [1].

The tension arises as the government of Pedro Sánchez continues to resist the five percent spending target [1]. Reports indicate Spain is currently exploring alternatives to the U.S.-made fighter jets, a move that has further provoked the Trump administration [1].

Benjamin León, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, supported the president's criticisms. León said the friction is not directed at the Spanish people but specifically at the government [3]. He said that the two nations have been brother peoples for 250 years [4] and will continue to be so.

The summit in Ankara brought together 32 NATO member states [2] to discuss collective security. Trump's public condemnation of Spain reflects a broader pattern of pressure on European allies to increase their military budgets to reduce reliance on U.S. funding.

“"España es un aliado horrible."”

This confrontation highlights a shift in U.S. diplomatic strategy, using the sale of high-tech military hardware as leverage to force NATO allies into higher spending. By targeting Spain's procurement of the F-35, the Trump administration is attempting to establish a precedent where defense technology access is contingent upon meeting strict GDP-based spending quotas, potentially straining the cohesion of the 32-member alliance.