Trump's Threat to Expel Spain from NATO Sparks Legal and Political Debate

On October 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly suggested that Spain should be expelled from NATO due to its failure to meet what he advocated as a 5% defense spending target. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump criticized Spain's low military expenditure, stating, “They have no excuse for not doing this. Maybe they should be expelled from NATO, frankly.” Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the country's choice to prioritize welfare over increasing defense spending, insisting that Spain remains a committed NATO member meeting its capacity goals. Opposition leaders in Spain, including Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Popular Party and Vox leader Santiago Abascal, blamed Sánchez's leadership for inviting Trump's harsh remarks and emphasized Spain's credibility within the alliance (Source 95938).

However, experts and analysts highlight that legally, Spain cannot be expelled from NATO since Article 13 of the treaty makes no provision for removing a member state. The threat is mainly political rather than legal. Article 5, which concerns collective defense, remains applicable and could be invoked if Spain were attacked, though its effectiveness depends on the other members’ willingness to act.

Spain plays a vital strategic and operational role within NATO, contributing troops and resources notably on the eastern flank and in Mediterranean operations. The Iberian Peninsula’s geographic importance, especially in controlling the Strait of Gibraltar and Atlantic access, underscores why expelling Spain would create a substantial operational gap within NATO’s defense framework. While Spain’s defense spending is low—below the 2% GDP goal agreed within NATO—it is still working to increase it, though this remains well below Trump’s preferred 5% figure (Source 95944).

The discussion exposes a fracture between political rhetoric and NATO’s legal and strategic realities. While Trump’s comments strain Spain’s position diplomatically, experts emphasize that expelling Spain is not legally possible nor strategically wise given its contributions and geographic importance. The controversy thus highlights wider NATO debates on burden-sharing, alliance cohesion, and defense priorities amid evolving global security challenges.