On this latter point, Spain has truly emerged as a European exception for its courageous defiance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. In particular, it has decisively opposed military spending and aggressive trade policies. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has been in office since 2018, is navigating Spain through an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment. His leadership is marked by a pivot towards China and strong support for the European Union’s collective bargaining power.
Yet in recent months, tensions have only surged between Madrid and Washington. President Trump even blamed Spain of trying to benefit from the US’s defense support while not paying their “fair share.” He threatened to raise greater trade burden on the country as punishment. He warned that Spain could face a cliff-edge trade deal. Such an agreement might require Spain to pay “double” if it continues its course of opposition to U.S. pressure.
So far, Spain has not faced any substantial repercussions from the United States. And just last week, the Spanish government cancelled a $2 billion deal for U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Instead, they decided to retire the old fleet and recapitalize through the acquisition of European military jets. This decision is a testament to the rising tide among EU and NATO allies. In doing so, Spain is voicing worries that most of them are indeed sounding, but to varying degrees.
Federico Santi, an expert on European politics, noted, “Spain is an interesting case in Europe because it is really the only country that is openly antagonizing Trump whereas everybody is trying to keep their head down for the most part.” He continued to say Spain’s position shows great leadership, but poses danger for Sanchez and the rest of the European community.
Besides its own defense posture, Spain has an additional interest in deepening economic ties with China. The Spanish government is still awarding Huawei multimillion-euro contracts for wiretapping technology. Despite possible blowback from Washington, this decision reflects a deepening of cooperation with the technology giant. This decision further reflects Spain’s broader strategy to develop and strengthen bilateral partnerships beyond its core Atlanticist alliances.
The political culture in Spain is much more pro-European oriented than it is towards an Atlanticist approach. Political analyst Ignacio Molina further clarified that “the dominant political culture in Spain is much more pro-European than Atlanticist.” He reiterated Spain’s passionate commitment to Ukraine. The primary attention remains on EU issues, like accession applications and refugee reception, rather than NATO membership or arms shipments.
Spain’s stand against U.S. demands fits within a larger European yearning for more strategic rebalancing. Kristina Kausch, a policy expert, remarked, “While this echoes a broader desire in Europe for strategic rebalancing, EU leaders have stressed that such a rebalancing must be based in reciprocity.” Spain’s leadership can serve as an example to other countries, particularly in the EU. They want to be free to exert more distance from U.S. hegemony.
The crisis leaves Sanchez’s administration in a vulnerable spot as the country still grapples with domestic issues. The administration is already roiled by several scandals and corruption investigations that may make any foreign policy outreach even more difficult. Standing up to Trump would be an act of courageous leadership. It comes with a big, but strategic risk.
Santi observed that Spain’s stance introduces “a domestic political temptation to distance itself from Trump, who is extremely unpopular in Spain, including among center-right voters.” That unpopularity has the potential to empower Sanchez as he manages domestic electoral pressures with international relations — especially with the PSA renewal coming up.
Spain isn’t just passively waiting to play its role on the world stage, it’s actively claiming it. It remains to be seen how the Trump administration will handle this. How these emerging dynamics play out between these two countries will almost certainly define their bilateral relationship—and the overall transatlantic alliance—for years to come.