US Pressures Spain to Boost Defense Spending, Drop Google Tax

During a high-level meeting in Washington, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo to increase Spain's defense spending to better align with NATO commitments. Bessent also reiterated U.S. opposition to Spain's digital services tax and other trade barriers, highlighting these as ongoing points of contention in bilateral relations. The meeting's tone, as reflected in U.S. statements, was notably blunt and lacked the usual diplomatic language about strong ties and common interests. The Spanish administration, however, described the talks as constructive and expressed optimism about continued cooperation. This meeting reflects broader U.S. efforts to encourage allied nations to boost defense budgets and reconsider digital taxation policies impacting American tech firms.