Donald Trump, during a press conference at the White House, surprised by referring to Spain as a 'BRICS nation', causing confusion. When asked about Spain's low military spending in NATO, Trump made the strange assertion that Spain is below the 5% contribution. This confusion reveals possible misunderstandings by the president regarding international dynamics and the relationship between Spain and the BRICS.
In his comment, Trump mentioned that he would impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations, including Spain, if they wanted to trade with the United States. However, Spain is not part of the BRICS group, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Despite belonging to the European Union and NATO, Trump insisted on his erroneous claim.
Although Spain has increased its military budget, it still does not meet the percentage set by NATO, which Trump criticized. The Spanish Minister of Education clarified that Spain is not a BRICS country and that President Trump may have made a mistake in his statements. Trump reiterated his threat to impose tariffs on the BRICS, highlighting his protectionist approach to global trade.
These statements reflect Trump's rhetoric of demanding greater contributions from NATO allies and reinforcing his aggressive trade stance. It remains to be seen if these assertions will translate into concrete actions or are part of the president's controversial style. The confusion generated in Spain by these statements, which occurred during a period of signing decrees at the White House, reinforces Trump's perception of European partners as 'tough'.
