Today, October 10, Spain rejected US President Donald Trump's proposal to expel it from NATO for its failure to implement his plan to increase defense spending.
This was reported by The Guardian with reference to AFP.
"Spain is a committed and full member of NATO. And it fulfills its defense commitments in the same way as the United States," said sources in the Spanish government.
On Thursday, October 9, the US President suggested that the NATO alliance consider expelling Spain from its ranks over a dispute over the Western European country's lagging behind in military spending.
Members of the US-backed security alliance agreed in June to sharply increase their military spending to 5% of gross domestic product, a top priority for Trump, who wants Europeans to spend more on their own defense. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at the time that he would not agree to 5%.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, US President Donald Trump considered during his first term to expel at least four NATO members for low defense spending.
Meanwhile, five NATO countries have joined the alliance's operation called Renovator, under which they will help Ukraine rebuild five military rehabilitation centers.
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