BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — US President Donald Trump apparently confused Spain for a member of the developing BRICS bloc of economies, causing some scratches and concerns over possible tariffs in Madrid.
Spain is not part of BRICS, whose initials stand for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Spain is a member of NATO, alongside the United States and the European Union.
Trump incorrectly said that Spain was part of BRICS when a reporter asked him about NATO countries, like Spain, that do not meet the NATO minimum of devoting 2%. of their economic production to defense. Spain ranks last in the 32-nation military alliance, with defense spending estimated at 1.28% last year.
Trump began his response by saying that “Spain is very weak,” referring to its defense spending, but quickly veered off to talk about BRICS.
“It’s a BRICS nation, Spain. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You will realize it,” he told the reporter from the presidential office in the Oval Office.
Trump reiterated his threat impose costly tariffs on BRICSsaying that “we’re going to impose tariffs of at least 100% on their business with the United States,” part of his economic plans that would overturn decades of consensus on free trade.
Spanish Education Minister Pilar Alegría, who is a government spokeswoman, said she was not sure why Trump made the comment.
“I don’t know if President Trump’s assertion is the result of confusion or not, but I can confirm that Spain is not part of BRICS,” Alegría told reporters on Tuesday.
Spain has been a committed member of NATO for four decades, she added, and the Spanish government considers the United States “a natural ally.”
Spain is one of eight countries that failed to meet NATO’s 2% spending target last year. Trump said he wanted NATO members reach 5% spending on defense.
