The European Union has reportedly vowed to protect member states' interests following President Donald Trump's threat to cut trade ties with Spain.
The European Union has reportedly vowed to protect the interests of its member states after President Donald Trump threatened to cut all trade ties with Spain, according to an unverified report. The vow, reported Wednesday afternoon (13:39 Jerusalem), marks a collective response to Trump's escalating pressure on a member state, raising the stakes in the transatlantic trade confrontation.
The development follows a series of events earlier Wednesday. At 11:13 Jerusalem, Trump initially stated he had cut ties with Spain, then called for a full trade severance including visits, and instructed his staff to end all business dealings with the country. The Spanish Prime Minister's office dismissed the directive as "business as usual" and affirmed strong bilateral ties. At 13:08 Jerusalem, Trump attacked Spain at the NATO summit in Ankara, calling it a "terrible partner" that does not pay its contributions. At 13:22 Jerusalem, Spanish government sources said they are taking the threat "calmly and normally," attributing the dispute to disagreements over defense spending and the Iran war.
The EU's reported response comes amid a broader backdrop of trade tensions between the United States and Europe. As The Zioneer reported on June 26–27, Trump threatened a 100% tariff on European countries that impose a digital services tax, and earlier on June 24, he called Spain a "shame show" and expressed disappointment with other European allies. The current dispute centers on defense spending and the Iran war, as previously noted by Spanish sources.
The EU's vow remains unverified. No official confirmation from Brussels has been provided, and the specific mechanism for protecting member states has not been detailed. The Spanish government's calm posture may be tested as the situation unfolds.
8 developments
- StrongSpain's PM office says US ties 'excellent', treats Trump's directive as 'business as usual'
- DevelopingTrump threatens to not renew USMCA trade deal with Canada and Mexico
- DevelopingUS ambassador to NATO: Trump disappointed with Spain
- DevelopingTrump says he is 'disappointed' with Italy, UK, Germany; calls Spain a 'shame show'
Source and signal
- Internal intake