Trump Mistakes Spain for a BRICS Bloc Country [Video]

President Donald Trump on Monday mistakenly identified Spain as a member of the BRICS bloc, a group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The comment caused confusion in Madrid and raised concerns about potential tariffs.

Why It Matters

Spain is a NATO and European Union member but is not part of BRICS, which represents a coalition of emerging economies.

What To Know

In response to a journalist’s question about NATO countries—like Spain—that fail to meet the alliance’s minimum defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP, Trump referred to Spain’s defense expenditures as “very low.”

Spain spent only 1.28 percent on defense last year, ranking last among NATO’s 32 members.

Trump also suggested that as a BRICS nation, Spain would be subject to 100 percent tariffs …