Mildenhall, July 9 -- In a significant diplomatic shift following days of intense friction at the NATO summit, US President Donald Trump on Thursday praised Spain for making a major financial commitment, signalling an end to a standoff that had threatened to fracture bilateral trade and security relations.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump revealed that Spain had "honoured a request for lots of payment" after he had previously threatened to cut off trade ties and dismiss the nation as a "hopeless" ally.

"I will say, I did have issues with Spain, and I still do, but Spain came back all the way today. Spain was very generous today," Trump stated. The President added that the sudden concession prevented a total br...