U.S. president Donald Trump has apparently confused Spain for a member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, causing some head-scratching and jitters over possible tariffs in Madrid.

As NATO pressures Spain to boost defense spending, facing challenges due to its historical aversion to militarism, political obstacles, and competing social priorities. Despite growing support for NATO,

NEW US President Donald Trump asked if NATO ally Spain was a BRICS nation when quizzed on the country’s low defence spending. The gaff was embarrassing

After US President Donald Trump confused Spain with a member of the BRICS bloc, a spokesperson for the Spanish government responded, saying she was unsure why Trump made the comment. Trump erroneously said Spain was in BRICS when a journalist asked him on Monday about NATO countries like Spain which don't meet the NATO minimum of spending 2 percent of economic output on defense.

As Trump confuses Spain for South Africa in BRICS, South Africans find humour in the blunder amid tariff warnings.

María Suárez, a Spaniard who lives in the US, warned that even a minor tariff increase could put people off shelling out for already-pricey olive oil - with the two litres her family consumes a month having a price tag of around $30 (£24) - something that a 20% tariff would see rise by $6 (£4.87).

Spain has a meagre contribution to NATO and as a consequence, it could face 100% tariffs from the US, according to President Donald Trump, who unfortunately confused it with a BRICS country. NATO chief says Europe must replace US in Ukraine aid

Donald Trump had a perfect opportunity to flaunt his purported “genius” brain and dealmaking prowess during a Monday press conference. And it didn’t go well.

European nations are funding a controversial United Nations group linked to Palestinian terrorism — while shirking their obligations to NATO, records show.

In February 2024, President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. policy that dates back almost 50 years, which posits that so-called Israeli “settlements” in the occupied Palestinian territories are “illegitimate” under established international law.

While Europe's military heavyweights have already said that meeting President Donald Trump's potential challenge to spend up to 5% of their economic output on security won't be easy, it would be an especially tall order for Spain.