Trump Criticizes Spain Over Ceuta, Defense

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Spain's handling of a migrant crisis in the North African enclave of Ceuta, warning the country is heading toward becoming "a ruined country." Trump also reiterated his long-standing complaints about Spain's defense spending within the NATO alliance. The remarks, made in an interview with GB News, come after a significant influx of migrants from Morocco into Ceuta. On July 30, an estimated 70,000 to 72,000 people crossed into the Spanish territory, overwhelming local resources and creating a humanitarian strain. While Spanish authorities reported returning a large number of migrants to Morocco, thousands remained in the enclave. Trump linked the migration crisis directly to his criticism of Spain's defense posture, stating that the country "does not pay what it should pay" to NATO. He has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Spain's defense contributions, particularly in light of the alliance's 2025 summit agreement in The Hague, which called for member states to reach 5% of GDP in defense spending by 2035.