Spain Rejects NATO’s 5% Defense Spending Goal

Madrid has negotiated an exemption from NATO’s ambitious defense target—Prime Minister Sánchez called it excessive and harmful to social stability.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Sunday that his country will not commit to NATO’s new goal of spending 5% of its GDP on defense by 2035. He described the target as “unnecessary” and “disproportionate.” This decision comes after all 32 NATO member states reached a consensus on increasing defense budgets. However, Sánchez formally requested an exemption in a letter to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, warning that Spain’s participation in the summit could be disrupted otherwise. 🔹 Spain’s Argument: The Prime Minister stated that Spain already meets all of its NATO obligations in terms of personnel and equipment with defense spending at just 2.1% of GDP. Further budget increases, he warned, would threaten crucial social services such as pensions or require tax hikes. 🔹 Current Status: In 2023, Spain spent only 1.28% of its GDP on defense—NATO’s lowest. Nonetheless, Madrid has pledged to accelerate its progress toward the original NATO goal of 2% by the end of 2024.

✍️ Diplomatic Compromise Softens Commitment Thanks to diplomatic negotiations, the final summit declaration wording was adjusted from “we commit” to “allies commit,” allowing countries like Spain to opt out of the collective pledge without violating the agreement.

Trump Pushes Europe for Higher Spending Former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, has called for increasing military budgets, not only for traditional defense but also for cyber security and infrastructure to support military logistics. This would push total spending toward 5% of GDP. Trump warned that countries failing to meet the targets shouldn’t expect protection from the United States. He also reiterated criticism of Spain’s low defense spending and issued a warning. However, Sánchez stood firm, saying that attempting to meet the 5% goal would come at too high a cost for Spanish citizens.

#NATO , #Geopolitics , #TRUMP , #worldnews , #Spain

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies! Notice: ,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“