The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated that President Donald Trump’s frustration with the government of Spain is fully justified, accusing Madrid of failing to meet its commitments within NATO. Bessent explained that Spain is the only member of the Alliance that does not reach the agreed defense spending target, which — in his words — makes it a “free rider” that benefits from collective security without assuming its proportional share of responsibility.
Bessent maintained that NATO has “never been stronger” than under Trump’s leadership and emphasized that the United States remains the largest contributor to the alliance. In that context, he criticized what he described as a deliberate attitude by the Spanish government to take advantage of U.S. financial and military efforts, as well as the commitment of other allies that have increased their defense spending.
The secretary also questioned Spain’s position regarding the use of military bases and logistical cooperation in the framework of the so-called Operation Epic Fury. He stated that over the weekend it was unacceptable to see a lack of cooperation concerning U.S. air operations, warning that any obstacle that slows down military execution puts American lives at risk.
In his remarks, Bessent underscored that transatlantic security cannot depend solely on Washington’s commitment. He noted that although the United States is geographically separated by the Atlantic Ocean, it continues to shoulder the largest burden within NATO, and argued that all allies must fully meet their obligations to ensure an effective and credible collective defense.
