As Spain stands behind Trump in defense and China

Spain’s somewhat unique approach to defense and foreign policy is tensing to the Trump administration.

Recently Spanish Government gave up on Purchasing aircraft in the US and resist intense pressure to make new 5% NATO The purpose of the cost of protectionsearch Closer economic ties with China.

In the aggregate analytics say Donald Trump.

Notable despite Trump threatening Southern Europe, which is engaged in Spain, has not yet faced significant consequences.

“Spain is an interesting thing in Europe because it is a really the only country that openly resists Trump, while everyone is trying to keep their heads for the most part,” said CNBC Federico Santi, which focused on Southern Europe in Eurosia Group.

Santi, according to Santa, was the “clear weakness” of the left coalition of the minority of the country that was connected In a number of scandals and corruption investigations.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has led the country since 2018, withdrew the calls of opposition legislators to resign. The leader of the Spanish Socialist Party instead stated that he intends to run for re -election in 2027.

The opportunity to focus on foreign policy issues such as defense, Santa Eurosia Group said, can help Sanchez distract the public from their own domestic troubles.

“Spain, by and large, went with its rather open criticism of Trump for two main reasons. South Africa‘s either Brazil“The world, which has encountered a very direct reaction of Trump in the form of higher tariffs, they are somewhat protected from it,” Santa said.

“And the second point, I think it works for the benefit of Sanchez, that Trump is simply not what is concerned or aware of Spain as a country. I mean, he knows about it, but it’s not really his radar,” he added.

The Spanish Government Press did not respond to the CNBC request for a comment.

Last week, the Spanish Ministry stated that it no longer considered the opportunity to acquire the US F-35, Reports ReutersPreferring instead of replacing its aging fleet on a European military aircraft.

The decision to open Lockheed Martin“The fighters came after Trump said it”horrible“This Madrid will not participate in the targets for NATO protection in 5% of the gross domestic product until 2035.

Speaking to a press conference at the NATO annual NATO summit in the late June, Trump said the Spanish economy “could be blown out of the water with something bad.”

The US president also threatened to force Spain to pay twice as much as a trade, criticizing Madrid for what he wanted to take a “slightly free trip”.

However in the US and EU signed The Trade Framework Agreement, which means that the 27-national block will face a tariff of 15% on EU goods in the United States, the EU spokes in trade transactions collectively, meaning that Spain payments from a collective deal affected by Brussels.

On the contrary, Switzerland, which is not an EU member, was Hit is tough At the tariff rate of the US, 39% on key export products.

Ignasio Molina, a senior officer of the Royal Institute of Elkan, an analytical center in Madrid, said the geographical distance of Spain from Russia and the various features of their foreign policy, which reach for their last war in 1898, which was against the United States, means that Madrid views its connection with Washington as “less important”.

“The dominant political culture in Spain is much more pro-government than the Atlantist. Even against Ukraine (which Spain strongly supports) the focus in Spain-on its entry into the EU and the reception of refugees, not at NATO membership members,” Molina said.

Molina emphasized that Spain and the United States are additionally complicated by the fact that the Spanish government is “most ideologically inclined” throughout Europe.

“This introduces an internal political temptation to get away from Trump, which is very unpopular in Spain, including among voters in the center,” Molina said.

Both US officials and the EU recently were critical of Sanchez’s decision to sentence Contract on Multimile Millioner-Euro For the Chinese technological giant Huawei for the use of its audition technology.

Kristina Kaush, the senior employee of the Marshal Marshal Fund, and a representative of the analytical tank in Madrid, said in -depth relations with China raised eyebrows in the US and parts of Europe.

“Although it repeats a broader desire in Europe for strategic balance, EU leaders emphasized that such balance should be based on reciprocity,” Kash said.

Meeting that in the US, the pressure on the defense of Kavsh said CNBC that Spain demonstrated Europe’s determination to develop military capabilities and industrial potential independently.

Even when covering EU membership, Kaush said that this approach is likely to be no risk.

“Spain gives voice concerns that are also shared, to greater or less, other EU or NATO allies. It shows a guide, but it is also a big game that can affect Sanchess personally, Spain and Europe,” she added.

– CNBC Charlotte Reid He contributed to this report.