"Spain is an interesting case, resisting Trump on defense and China issues without facing retaliation."

In the political landscape of Europe and the West, Spain is standing under the spotlight with a unique posture. The strategy that this Southern European country has taken in defense and foreign policy is intensifying its tensions with the U.S. government, with some analysts suggesting that Spain "is walking a dangerous path."

According to a report by CNBC on the 12th, the Spanish government recently abandoned its plan to purchase American fighter jets, resisted pressure from the United States to increase defense spending, and sought closer economic ties with China. These series of actions have made Spain one of the few European countries openly opposing the U.S.

"Spain is an interesting case in Europe because it is actually the only country openly opposing Trump, while other countries mostly chose to remain low-key," said Federico Santi, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group focusing on Southern Europe.

According to the report, the Spanish Ministry of Defense stated last week that it was no longer considering purchasing the F-35 fighter jets produced by the American defense giant Lockheed Martin, and would instead choose the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is manufactured in Europe, or the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project led by France, Germany, and Spain.

This decision is undoubtedly a direct challenge to American defense interests. Prior to this, President Trump had been furious because Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez firmly refused to meet the U.S. requirement to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP.

The report pointed out that although Trump threatened to take stricter trade measures against Spain, so far, Spain has not faced any substantial consequences.

Spain's avoidance of retaliation mainly benefits from two factors: first, the "protection" provided by its EU membership, and second, Trump's relatively low attention to Spain. Unlike Switzerland, which has been hit by a 39% tariff from the U.S., Spain benefits from a 15% tariff agreement reached through collective negotiations by the EU, effectively avoiding harsher trade sanctions.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840325143324680/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.