(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Spain, threatening economic penalties due to its inability to comply with NATO’s heightened defense budget obligations.

Trump has been a vocal advocate for increased military spending among NATO allies, a demand that Spanish officials have previously rejected as unfeasible.

During a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, Trump singled out Spain as the only country that failed to raise its defense budget to 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “I’m very unhappy with Spain,” he remarked, alleging that Madrid has shown “unbelievably disrespectful” behavior toward the military alliance.

The President continued by saying, “I was thinking about giving them trade punishment through tariffs because of what they did. I may do that.”

His remarks indicate a potential shift in U.S.-Spain trade relations as a form of retaliation.

Earlier this October, Trump floated the idea of expelling Spain from NATO altogether, citing its persistent neglect of the alliance’s spending targets.

During a conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in the Oval Office, Trump declared, “They have no excuse not to do this.”

Throughout both his current and previous terms, the U.S. leader has consistently criticized NATO partners for what he sees as an unequal sharing of defense responsibilities.

Since returning to office in January, he has escalated his demands for European nations within the alliance to increase their military investments.

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