The tension between the United States and Spain has reached a new level after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a NATO ultimatum, calling for Spain to be expelled from the alliance. The statement came during his meeting with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on October 9,

Since Stoltenberg stepped down in November 2024, Trump has further reshaped NATO’s defense spending expectations in 2025, pushing allies at the alliance’s summit in The Hague in June 2025 toward a new benchmark of 5 percent of GDP by 2035. Update 09/29/25, 3:14 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.

President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was “ready to do major sanctions” on Russia once NATO countries pull purchases of Russian oil, additionally requesting the alliance to impose up to 100% tariffs on China until Russia ends its war with Ukraine, as peace talks have stalled in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump criticizes NATO countries for continuing Russian energy purchases, saying China and India are primary funders of the ongoing war.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace. The comments came as Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.