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Spain Out of Trump's Plans: No Contact or Interest From the U.S.

Spain, along with Brazil and South Africa, is one of the few G20 countries that hasn't been contacted by the Trump Administration.

During the last fifty days, the Trump Administration has maintained diplomatic contacts with countries such as Botswana, Paraguay, Hungary, and Cyprus. However, Spain, a strategic ally with shared military bases in Rota and Morón, has not received any official communication.

This absence of dialogue occurs at a critical moment.Where Spain faces pressures for being the NATO member with the lowest defense investment. Additionally,due to the risk of possible tariff sanctions because of its fiscal policy.

The only recent interaction between both governments was on January 21.When the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, congratulated the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, after his appointment.

Albares expressed his desire to strengthen the bilateral relationship and address common challenges within the transatlantic unity. However, this communication was one-way, without a public response from Washington.

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Donald Trump president of the United States | Redes sociales

Spain, along with Brazil and South Africa, is one of the few G20 countries that has not been contacted by the Trump Administration. Meanwhile, U.S. leaders have held talks with their counterparts from Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Türkiye.

Additionally, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has spoken with his South Korean counterpart, and President Trump has directly conversed with leaders from Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

This situation highlights the apparent disconnection between Washington and Madrid, especially concerning given the defense collaboration and shared military bases. The lack of communication could be interpreted as a sign of disinterest or disagreement in key areas of cooperation.

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The lack of communication between Washington and Madrid could also affect cooperation in key areas | Europa Press

In response to NATO's demands, Sánchez has announced an effort to advance the increase in defense spending to 2% of GDP before 2029. This commitment seeks to align Spain with the alliance's objectives and strengthen its position on the international stage. Sánchez has emphasized that this increase will not compromise social spending and has advocated for a more integrated European defense.

The absence of direct communication between the United States and Spain could have significant implications for Spanish domestic politics. Feijóo has criticized Trump's policies and has focused his attention on international issues, seeking to capitalize on the situation to weaken Sánchez's Government.

The lack of communication between Washington and Madrid could also affect cooperation in key areas such as security and defense. The Rota and Morón bases are essential for NATO operations in the Mediterranean and Africa, and any weakening in the bilateral relationship could have strategic consequences.

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