Donald Trump has bewildered his EU and NATO allies in the first hours of his inauguration as US president (his second term) by claiming that Spain is part of BRICS.
In the Oval Office, Trump was asked what measures he intends to take against NATO countries that spend the least on defense relative to their gross domestic product. “Spain spends very little... They are a BRICS country. Do you know what BRICS is? "You'll find out," Trump told the reporter who asked him the question.
The president repeated his threat to impose tariffs on the BRICS, saying "we're going to impose at least 100% tariffs on the business they do with the United States." The move is part of his economic plans that would overturn decades of free trade consensus, the AP reported.
In fact, BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Spain is one of the European Union's largest economies and has not expressed a desire to join the BRICS.
Spain is one of eight countries that failed to meet NATO's goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense last year. Trump said he wanted NATO members to reach 5% defense spending, which many experts say is an unattainable goal.
A Spanish government spokesman immediately responded to Trump's words, confirming that “Spain is not in BRICS“. Madrid said it did not know whether Trump's words were the result of confusion or why the US president made the comment.
Trump on Spain: They are BRICS nation. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You will figure it out.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 21, 2025
Fact check: Spain is NOT a BRICS nation. pic.twitter.com/uZh4mEKz9i