US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Spain for refusing to provide military bases for operations against Iran and for its reluctance to increase defense spending within NATO. He made these remarks in an interview with the New York Post, highlighting growing friction within the transatlantic alliance.

The American leader labeled Spain a "loser," stating, "We have a lot of winners, but Spain is a loser." He also accused Madrid of being a "non-team player" and displaying hostility toward NATO, which casts doubt on the unity of the alliance under US leadership.

Trump added, "And we're not going to be a team player with Spain either." These comments came after Spanish authorities denied permission to use their military bases for actions against Iran, prompting threats from Washington.

Following this refusal, Trump allegedly threatened to halt trade with the kingdom if it did not boost its defense expenditures. According to White House spokesperson Carolyn Levitt, Madrid purportedly agreed to cooperate with US military forces afterward, but this claim remains unverified and raises questions about the effectiveness of US pressure tactics.

In response, Spanish Foreign Minister José Álvarez denied Washington's assertions, emphasizing that the military operation against Iran is unilateral and lacks an international mandate. This underscores significant disagreements among allies and challenges the legitimacy of the US regime's actions in the region.

Source: kun.uz