In a recent statement that left many baffled, U.S. President Donald Trump erroneously identified Spain as a member of the BRICS bloc, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This mistake occurred during a discussion about NATO countries’ defense spending efforts, particularly in light of Spain's failure to meet the alliance’s minimum target of 2% of GDP on defense. Currently, Spain's defense expenditure stands at approximately 1.28%, ranking it last among NATO's 32 member nations.

When asked about Spain's military spending, Trump stated, “Spain is very low,” and then incorrectly declared, “They’re a BRICS nation, Spain. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You’ll figure it out,” during a presser in the Oval Office. His comments have raised eyebrows across Europe, intensifying worries about the potential for new tariffs.

Despite the geopolitical gaffe, Trump reiterated his intention to impose hefty tariffs on BRICS nations, proclaiming, “we are going to put at least a 100% tariff on the business they do with the United States.” This mirrors his broader strategy aimed at altering the longstanding practices of free trade.

Reacting to Trump's comments, Spanish Education Minister Pilar Alegría clarified, “I can confirm that Spain is not in BRICS,” emphasizing Spain’s long-standing alliance with the U.S. as a NATO member for over four decades. She remarked, “I don’t know if the affirmation made by President Trump was the result of a mix-up or not,” highlighting the confusion surrounding the President's statements.

Trump’s remarks come at a time when he is advocating for NATO members to significantly increase military spending, aspiring for a benchmark of 5%, which has elicited diverse reactions from various member nations. To delve deeper into this geopolitical hiccup, you can refer to the coverage by HuffPost and AP News.