STORY: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (June 20) that Spain has been "notorious" for underspending on defense, and he said it needs to pay what other NATO countries spend on their military.

"NATO is going to have to deal with Spain. Spain has been a very low payer. They were always a very low payer. They were either good negotiators or they weren't doing the right thing," Trump told reporters.

"I think Spain has to pay what everybody else has to pay. Spain has been notorious for low pay," Trump said when asked if he thinks Spain would increase its defense budget if the NATO spending target is increased.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a letter to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday (June 19) that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the 5% target.

At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defense in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2% this year.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JUNE 20, 2025) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WEARING RED 'MAGA' HAT DESCENDING STAIRS DISEMBARKING AIR FORCE ONE

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"(Reporter asking: Is it still your expectation that NATO countries spend 5% of their GDP on defense spending?) Well, I think they should do that. I don't think we should, but I think they should. We've been spending, we've been supporting NATO so long, in many cases, I believe, paying almost 100% of the cost. So I don't think we should. But I think that the NATO countries should absolutely. (Reporter asking: What if Spain decides not to?) NATO's going to have to deal with Spain. Spain has been a very low payer. They were always a very low payer. They were either good negotiators or they weren't doing the right thing. I mean, I think Spain has to pay what everybody else has to pay. Spain has been notorious for low pay. You know who else was a low payer, just about the lowest. A place called Canada. Because Canada said, 'why should we pay when the United States will protect us free?'"

3. WHITE FLASH

4. TRUMP WALKING TOWARDS MARINE ONE