When US President Donald Trump made a surprising statement about Spain on his first day in office, he left many in Spain a bit puzzled. While talking about NATO and defense spending, Trump mistakenly mentioned that Spain was a member of BRICS, the group of five major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Oops! Spain’s Not in BRICS
Spain, of course, is not part of BRICS. So, why the mix-up? It all started when a journalist asked Trump about NATO countries like Spain, which don’t meet the alliance’s defense spending target of 2% of their GDP. Spain, in fact, spends only 1.28% on defense, which puts it at the bottom of the NATO spending list.
Trump began his response by mentioning that Spain’s defense spending was “very low,” but then quickly shifted gears and said, “They’re a BRICS nation, Spain. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You’ll figure it out.”
A Surprise Twist: Tariff Talk on BRICS
As if the BRICS slip-up wasn’t enough, Trump went on to say that he planned to impose hefty tariffs on countries in the BRICS bloc — including Spain, according to his statement. He even suggested a 100% tariff on business dealings between the US and BRICS countries. This remark was part of his larger push to shake up long-standing free trade agreements.
Pilar AlegrÃa, Spain’s education minister, was quick to clarify the confusion. She told reporters that while she wasn’t sure why Trump made the error, “Spain is not in BRICS.”
Spain and NATO’s Spending Woes
It’s also worth noting that Spain is one of eight NATO countries that didn’t meet the 2% defense spending target last year. However, Trump has been vocal about his desire for NATO members to raise their defense budgets, even suggesting a 5% target.
More Confusion on Day One
It wasn’t just Spain that found itself in the crosshairs of Trump’s confusion. During his inauguration speech, Trump sparked backlash from New Zealanders when he claimed that America was responsible for splitting the atom. In reality, that achievement belongs to Sir Ernest Rutherford, a physicist from New Zealand.
Nick Smith, the mayor of Nelson (Rutherford’s hometown), took to social media to correct Trump’s misstatement, expressing his surprise that the US President would take credit for such a significant scientific accomplishment.
In the End…
It seems Trump’s first day left both Spain and New Zealand scratching their heads. But with his bold, often controversial statements, it’s clear that the President’s words will continue to spark debate around the world. Stay tuned for more twists and turns in the world of global politics!
