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Trump threatens Spain trade cuts at NATO summit

President escalates tensions with allies while meeting Zelenskyy on Ukraine aid.

2026-07-08 · synthesized from 17 sources

President Trump escalated pressure on NATO allies on day two of the summit in Turkey, calling for cutting off all trade with Spain and reviving his Greenland acquisition claim. The moves underscored growing friction as Trump demands higher defense spending and questions alliance commitments [BBC Europe, UPI].

Meanwhile, Trump held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the summit, as the White House attempts to manage concerns about U.S. support amid the Iran crisis [NBC News]. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump's Iran strategy as a "total, utter disaster," marking sharp Democratic pushback on foreign policy [The Hill].

On the domestic front, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen announced her presidential bid, with analysts viewing the move as a calculated gamble ahead of 2027 elections [France 24, UPI].

In legal news, the U.S. charged an Indian crime leader in connection with a Sikh activist's assassination, marking a rare extradition case [Al Jazeera]. Nigeria's president demanded answers after a fake government agency was allegedly established within his office [BBC Africa].

Back home, Michigan Democrats engaged in intense Senate race debates while Maine party officials eye lessons from Harris's 2024 campaign struggles [CBS News, Politico].

Sources