Summary
President Donald Trump criticized Spain for not meeting his defense spending goal for NATO members, suggesting it could be removed from the alliance. At a meeting with Finland's President Alexander Stubb, Trump expressed support for Finland, a new NATO member, and stated that the U.S. would defend it if Russia attacked.
Key Facts
- President Trump criticized Spain for not increasing its military spending to 5% of GDP as part of NATO obligations.
- Spain negotiated an exemption at a NATO meeting in June, continuing to spend around 2% of GDP on defense.
- Trump suggested that Spain could be removed from NATO due to its stance on defense spending.
- Trump reassured Finland that the U.S. would defend it if Russia attacked, citing Finland's strong military.
- Finland joined NATO in April 2023, followed by Sweden.
- Trump expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Russia invading Finland.
- NATO was founded with 12 members and now has 32; Spain joined in 1982.
