MADRID: The United States has praised Spain’s contribution to NATO, the Spanish defense minister said Monday, after President Donald Trump suggested expelling the country from the alliance for not meeting his military spending target.
Last week, the United States announced the withdrawal of some troops from the alliance’s sensitive eastern European flank, on the front line against Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.
But the Pentagon simultaneously said Spain’s contingent was playing “a fundamental and essential role for the defense of Europe and policies of deterrence,” Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said.
The Pentagon “congratulated Spain” for “contributing to the reinforcement of the Atlantic Alliance” and its more than 700 troops in Latvia, she added at a security forum in Madrid.
“Faced with those who want to say Spain is not a committed ally, Spain is a committed ally... and the Department of War recognized that last week,” added Robles, referring to the US defense ministry by its new name.
The revelation contrasts with recent remarks by Trump, who threatened to expel and impose tariff “punishment” on Spain, which was NATO’s lowest defense spender in relative terms last year.
In June, the 32-nation alliance agreed to massively boost defense spending to five percent of annual economic output over the next decade under pressure from Trump, who has raised doubts about the US commitment to European security.
But Spain insisted it would not need to hit the headline figure, saying it should meet its capacity objectives rather than fixed spending targets.
US hailed Spain in NATO after Trump threats: Spanish minister
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US hailed Spain in NATO after Trump threats: Spanish minister
- Spain has sent over 700 troops to Latvia as part of NATO’s efforts in Eastern Europe
- Pentagon “congratulated Spain” for “contributing to the reinforcement of the Atlantic Alliance”
Suspect in Michigan synagogue attack is dead, AP source says
- The person confirmed the death at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township
- Patel said agents were on scene of an “apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation” at the synagogue
MICHIGAN, USA: The suspect in an attack on a synagogue in Michigan is dead, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, after a sheriff said security at the largest Reform Synagogue in the US had engaged in gunfire.
The person confirmed the death at the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, but did not provide additional details. The person could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The person said no one else was reported injured.
Oakland County Sheriff Sheriff Mike Bouchard confirmed during an earlier news conference that security at the synagogue had engaged in gunfire with at least one person, and that no one was in custody.
WDIV-TV reported that a truck had crashed into the synagogue. Smoke could be seen billowing from the synagogue’s roof. Footage from the scene shows dozens of police vehicles surrounding the building.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were on scene of an “apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation” at the synagogue.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s office said authorities are clearing the building. About a dozen parents sprinted to get their children from an early childhood learning center inside the building after getting approval from police. West Bloomfield School District went on lockdown.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying she was tracking developments.
“This is heartbreaking,” the governor said. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”
Temple Israel calls itself the nation’s largest Reform synagogue, with 12,000 members. according to its website. It has an early childhood education center and offers educational programs for families and adults.
The website says the synagogue is “passionate about helping Jewish communities across the globe” and that its mission is to “create a community building through the lens of Reform Judaism.”
The Jewish Federation of Detroit advised all Jewish organizations in the area “to go into lockout protocol — nobody in or out of your building.”
