US President Donald Trump used the NATO summit in Turkey for a series of harsh messages - he declared the end of the truce with Iran and announced drastic economic measures against Spain, which he called a "terrible partner".
American president Donald tramp he stated at the summit NATO- and in Turkey to consider that the agreement reached with Iran is "finished", assessing that it no longer makes sense to continue diplomatic talks with Tehran.
"It's a waste of time to deal with them," Trump told reporters at the start of the NATO summit, giving the clearest indication yet that the agreement Washington reached with Iran has virtually collapsed.
His remarks came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had carried out attacks on US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to earlier US strikes on Iran.
Photo: Filip Singer, Pool Photo via APDonald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Evil and sick Iranians
Trump called the Iranians "evil and sick people," accusing Tehran of violating a ceasefire agreement by attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
"They are dirty players," Trump said, adding that the United States did not want to waste any more time on negotiations.
The American president also said that he wants Washington to "do its job", instead of continuing to bother diplomatically with Iran.
"We have to remove their cancer. And you know what you do with cancer? You have to remove it early," Trump said, referring to Iran's state leadership.
The crisis between Washington and Tehran has further intensified after a series of military strikes and mutual accusations, while the NATO allies try to assess the consequences of a possible new escalation in the Middle East.
The US president's statement comes as NATO leaders meet to discuss security challenges, including the war in Ukraine and rising tensions with Iran.
Photo: AP Photo/Alex BrandonTurkish President Recep Erdogan with Trump
"Spain is a terrible partner"
Trump also made harsh criticisms of Spain during the NATO summit in Ankara, calling that country a "terrible partner" and confirming that he had ordered the introduction of drastic economic measures against official Madrid.
Trump told reporters at the summit that he had personally instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant to completely suspend trade with Spain, saying the United States "want nothing to do with them."
Disputes over the defense budget and military cooperation are cited as the main reasons for this move by Washington. The US administration is dissatisfied with Spain's defense allocations, which despite growth amount to around 2,1 percent of GDP, which the White House considers insufficient. In addition, official Madrid has previously refused to cede military bases on its territory to US forces for operations related to the conflict in Iran.
The harsh statement in Ankara was preceded by last week's statements of the US president, who, alluding to the Spanish-American war, said that Spain is "not good" and that it will "learn a lesson soon", noting that Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam historically belong to the USA.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Socialist Pedro Sánchez, stated at the summit that Spain remains committed to fulfilling its obligations and strengthening military capacities within the Alliance. However, he stressed that his government will not do this to the detriment of social benefits and the stability of the domestic welfare state.
Diplomatic sources estimate that an open economic and political conflict between two NATO members could significantly undermine the internal cohesion and unity of the North Atlantic Alliance.
What is happening in the country and the world, what is in the newspapers and how to pass the time?
Every Wednesday at noon In between arrives by email. It's a pretty solid newsletter, so sign up!
The global race in the development of artificial intelligence has boosted Chinese exports. Increasing dependence on foreign markets is straining Beijing's relations with its trading partners
New negotiations between Ukraine, the USA and Russia are planned for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi. This is the first meeting in this format after nine months
At the moment when the institutions of the Republic are destroyed, when Vučić's octopus is still alive, when people are disgusted by the injustice and the stench left behind by the Essenes regime, we have, as Machiavelli said, only civic virtue as the fuel with which we can return to the beginning
The four independent members of REM are an example of perseverance and civic responsibility. Rodoljub Šabić even, upon leaving the premises of REM, after the sentencing of the Informer, experienced that the Essenes insulted him, hit him with their hands and feet. But that too will soon be over
Vučić pardoned the batterers and Dijana Hrkalović. The election winners should abolish the sultan's power that allows one man to run afoul of the entire judicial system
The archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
