Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Antony Blinken

Jens Stoltenberg

Sergei Ryabkov

Kurt Volker

Alexander Stubb

Michael McCaul

NATO

Mircea Geoan

Michael R. Carpenter

Mark Rutte

Andriy Yermak

Julianne Smith

Robert Fico

Ukraine joining NATO "will never happen."

NATO hasn't "reached the point where it is prepared to offer membership or an invitation to Ukraine."

“As long as I am head of the Slovak government, I will direct the MPs that are under my control... never to agree to Ukraine's joining NATO.”

"We cannot admit Ukraine into NATO immediately."

Ukraine is "fully prepared and able to be a member of NATO."

We will take "concrete steps to bring Ukraine closer to NATO."

"Ukraine's path and bridge towards NATO membership is now irreversible."

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and will continue on this path until [it] become[s] a member of our alliance."

"Ukraine will join NATO. It is not a question of if, but of when."

Will Ukraine Join NATO?

Donald Trump

Nikki Haley

Thomas Gift

Ron Filipkowski

J.D. Vance

Randall Stone

Dan Caldwell

Kori Schake

Charles Kupchan

John Bolton

Mark Esper

James G. Stavridis

"I doubt President Trump will withdraw from NATO."

"I do not expect Trump to withdraw from NATO."

"Donald Trump wants NATO to be strong. He wants us to remain in NATO."

America's there "100 percent [if NATO allies pay their fair share]."

"He might try to pull the United States out of NATO."

"In a second Trump term, we'd almost certainly withdraw from NATO."

Trump "talked many times about getting out of NATO behind closed doors and publicly. So that's just a fact."

"Trump is setting up the pretext for cutting off aid to Ukraine and pulling the US out of NATO."

Will the US Pull Out of NATO?

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested during a meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Thursday that NATO should consider expelling Spain from the alliance due to the country's refusal to commit to increased defense spending targets.

Sputnik International

Politico

c-span.org

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested during a meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Thursday that NATO should consider expelling Spain from the alliance due to the country's refusal to commit to increased defense spending targets.

During a meeting concerning a U.S.-Finland icebreaker deal, Trump told President Stubb that Finland was "great" about meeting the new NATO spending requirements. In contrast, Trump described Spain as a "laggard," before stating "maybe you should throw them out of NATO, frankly."

Al Jazeera

During a meeting concerning a U.S.-Finland  icebreaker deal, Trump told President Stubb that Finland was "great" about meeting the new NATO spending requirements. In contrast, Trump described Spain as a "laggard," before stating "maybe you should throw them out of NATO, frankly."

NATO members <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/nato-allies-commit-to-defense-spending-despite-divisions">agreed in June to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035,</a> with Spain being the only country among the 32-nation alliance to refuse commitment to this benchmark that replaced the previous 2% target.

Global Times

European Conservative

NATO members agreed in June to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with Spain being the only country among the 32-nation alliance to refuse commitment to this benchmark that replaced the previous 2% target.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/spain-secures-nato-defense-spending-exemption-amid-target">In a letter shared by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez</a> earlier this year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the new terms of the bloc would "give Spain the flexibility to determine its own sovereign path for reaching the Capability Target goal and the annual resources necessary as a share of GDP."

Pedro Sanchez

In a letter shared by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier this year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the new terms of the bloc would "give Spain the flexibility to determine its own sovereign path for reaching the Capability Target goal and the annual resources necessary as a share of GDP."

Spain is currently the joint-lowest defense spender in NATO, expected to spend 2.0% of GDP in 2025 alongside the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, North Macedonia and Portugal, with Sanchez maintaining that his country needs only 2.1% to meet defense commitments.

Spain is currently the joint-lowest defense spender in NATO, expected to spend 2.0% of GDP in 2025 alongside the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, North Macedonia and Portugal, with Sanchez maintaining that his country needs only 2.1% to meet defense commitments.

Thought the NATO treaty contains no provisions concerning member expulsion, Article 13 does allow any member to cease participation after twenty years of membership by giving one year's notice to the U.S. government.

Thought the NATO treaty contains no provisions concerning member expulsion, Article 13 does allow any member to cease participation after twenty years of membership by giving one year's notice to the U.S. government.

Spain stands alone in refusing NATO's reasonable defense commitments while every other ally stepped up to meet their obligations. Sanchez's radical government undermines collective security when threats are rising, choosing ideologically-driven spending over the very real threats facing the world. Spain enjoys NATO protection while freeloading off other nations' sacrifices, making expulsion a more realistic prospect than Sánchez may believe.

Spain stands alone in refusing NATO's reasonable defense commitments while every other ally stepped up to meet their obligations. Sanchez's radical government undermines collective security when threats are rising, choosing ideologically-driven spending over the very real threats facing the world. Spain enjoys NATO protection while freeloading off other nations' sacrifices, making expulsion a more realistic prospect than Sánchez may believe.

The Heritage Foundation

Spains Socialist Government Has the Least Responsible Security Policies in NATO

Ada Lluch

ada_lluch

Spain's refusal to bow to Trump's outrageous 5% defense spending demand shows real leadership in protecting working families and facing up to the military-industrial complex. Sanchez correctly recognizes this arbitrary target would gut schools and hospitals while enriching American weapons manufacturers. The demand represents nothing more than bullying from a crumbling empire desperate to maintain its military dominance.

Spain's refusal to bow to Trump's outrageous 5% defense spending demand shows real leadership in protecting working families and facing up to the military-industrial complex. Sanchez correctly recognizes this arbitrary target would gut schools and hospitals while enriching American weapons manufacturers. The demand represents nothing more than bullying from a crumbling empire desperate to maintain its military dominance.

Jacobin

Spain Is Right to Reject Increased Military Spending

Ashok Kumar

broseph_stalin

There is a 95% chance that the U.S. will continuously remain a NATO member until Jan. 1, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 95% chance that the U.S. will continuously remain a NATO member until Jan. 1, 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Trump Suggests NATO Expel Spain Over Defense Spending

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Ryabkov

Smith

Fico

McCaul

Yermak

Blinken

Stubb

Rutte

Stoltenberg

Schake

Kupchan

Vance

Trump

Stone

Bolton

Haley

Filipkowski

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