Latest news with #Sanchez
The Hill
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Spain asks for break on NATO contribution: Report
Leaders in Madrid urged NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to exempt them from a proposed defense spending goal set at 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) ahead of next week's summit at The Hague. 'Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem,' Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in a letter to Rutte, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. 'It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to,' he added. Spain currently has the lowest military spending among member nations, devoting 1.3 percent of its GDP to defense spending last year, according to reports from Politico EU. Member nations agreed to commit 2 percent of their GDP to defense spending in 2014, with the hope of ensuring NATO can sustain continued military readiness. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has sparked concerns about the possibility of a wider war involving Europe amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's push to obtain more land. However, Spain said the Kremlin poses no current threat to its borders but did not oppose heightened security for other NATO member nations. 'Of course, it is not our intention to limit the spending ambitions of other allies or to obstruct the outcome of the upcoming summit,' Sanchez wrote in the letter. Rutte has suggested that an increase in defense spending levels should ensure that 3.5 percent of GDP is allocated to military expenditures, while 1.5 percent is allocated for defense-related items, such as military mobility and cybersecurity, Politico EU reported. However, Sanchez said the policy would force Spain to purchase off-the-shelf equipment instead of cultivating its own industrial base as recorded in his letter. President Trump has encouraged Rutte's push for growth, citing a mounting concern for the United States' dominant support of the war in Ukraine, a non-member nation designated as a NATO partner country. Although his administration signed a minerals agreement with the country to recoup the financial commitment seeped in weapons packages and the purchase of military equipment, the president has urged other nations to help back the Eastern European ally. 'I didn't see Spain's comments, I'll make sure the president sees them and I can assure you he wants to see all European countries pay their fair share and meet that 5 percent threshold,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during Thursday's press briefing. 'It's only fair considering the American taxpayers have given a significant chunk of money to the tune of billions of dollars to support our mutual interests and our assured defense.' The NATO summit is set to take place from June 24-25 and would require all 32 member nations to approve the increase in defense spending to solidify the objective. 'The NATO Summit is coming at a very precarious moment for the transatlantic relationship, marked by uncertainty about the US commitment to Europe, a relative stalemate in peace negotiations between Russia, and Ukraine and ongoing tensions over transatlantic trade,' Lauren Speranza, a fellow at the Center for European Progress said in a statement. 'As the first NATO summit of President Trump's second term, I do think The meeting will offer us some insight into how the administration will approach the Alliance going forward, following some of the previous criticisms we've heard of NATO and calls for Europe to do more to take greater responsibility for its own defense.'
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Spain may derail NATO summit by resisting defence spend
Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by US President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a five per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of two per cent. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing." The US, which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a five per cent target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defence production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision". Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2 per cent per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by US President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a five per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of two per cent. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing." The US, which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a five per cent target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defence production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision". Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2 per cent per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by US President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a five per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of two per cent. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing." The US, which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a five per cent target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defence production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision". Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2 per cent per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by US President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a five per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of two per cent. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing." The US, which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a five per cent target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defence production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision". Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2 per cent per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Spain may derail NATO summit by resisting defence spend
Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target. In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by US President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "Committing to a five per cent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter. "It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of two per cent. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and commit a further 1.5 per cent to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing." The US, which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a five per cent target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defence production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision". Some other NATO members have also questioned the timeline, saying it is too rapid, but are generally willing to sign up, diplomatic sources say. Italy, for example, wants the deadline moved to 2035 from 2032 and the removal of a requirement to increase spending by 0.2 per cent per year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Lauren Sanchez's former friend and yoga instructor reveals 'humiliating' dancefloor snub that sparked 16-year vendetta in scathing lawsuit
has been accused of launching an extraordinary 15-year campaign of 'revenge' against a former close friend on the eve of her sumptuous wedding. The ongoing fight started over whether Sanchez or Alanna Zabel was the better dancer to the 2009 hit Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas. Now it has culminated with Zabel accusing Sanchez – who is due to marry Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy next week – of copyright infringement and breach of contract in a federal lawsuit. The suit, filed in California, claims Sanchez, now 55, has harbored 'resentment' against Zabel ever since the dance-off at the bride-to-be's 40th birthday party. In the lawsuit seen by Zabel, 52, claims that when guests preferred her moves, Sanchez 'flicked her away' and turned her back on her 'in a dramatic, humiliating way'. In revenge Sanchez allegedly stole the storyline for her 2024 children's book, The Fly Who Flew To Space – a New York Times bestseller – from Zabel's book, Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars. Sanchez ripped off the idea 'scene for scene, plot point by plot point, and page by page,' Zabel claims. According to the suit, Sanchez also 'trolled' Zabel by designing her space suit to look like the one in her book during her April trip into space aboard a Blue Origin vessel. The scorched earth lawsuit also claims that Sanchez once had such a crush on Bill Clinton - whom she interviewed on Extra in 2010 - that she reveled in being nicknamed 'Monica', after Monica Lewinsky, the White House intern who had an affair with the then-president. Zabel's allegations against Sanchez, who is set to marry Bezos, 61, in Venice on his $500million yacht, Koru, are copyright infringement and breach of contract. She is asking for unspecified damages. has contacted Sanchez for comment. The lawsuit reveals Sanchez's alleged takedown of a person who was once very close to her. Sanchez was working as a TV reporter and was married to Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell when she met Zabel at a yoga class she was teaching at sports commentator Rich Eisen and his wife Suzy Shuster's home in 2008 Zabel who previously worked with Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, states that she began giving private yoga classes to sports commentator Rich Eisen and his wife Suzy Shuster in 2008. Sanchez, a socialite who was working as a TV reporter and was married to Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell at the time, attended a class in Eisen's home and asked Zabel to give her private lessons too. Zabel and Sanchez 'became close friends' with the instructor giving her student gifts including several of her children's books and clothing from her AZIAM activewear range. The lawsuit states: 'Zabel's and Sanchez's friendship became so close that Sanchez shared with Zabel intimate details about her life including details about her cosmetic surgeries, details about breastfeeding her child, and intimate details about her relationships. 'As another example of the closeness of their friendship, in communications with Sanchez, Zabel sometimes used the name 'Monica' to refer to Sanchez. 'This was a fun, personal nickname that Zabel used for Sanchez because Sanchez had shared that she had a romantic interest in Bill Clinton after she met him in 2009. Sanchez seemed to have enjoyed this nickname.' According to the lawsuit, the friendship between the two women extended to them working together on a children's book: Sanchez even signed a non-disclosure agreement. They also discussed working on a 21-day fitness program inspired by Zabel's book 'As I Am' – but then they fell out. The lawsuit states that the rift occurred in November 2009 when Sanchez invited Zabel to her 40th birthday party at the ritzy Music Box club in West Hollywood. The event was packed with A-list stars with Rick Springfield performing. The lawsuit states: 'During the party, the song Boom Boom Pow began to play, and Sanchez called for Zabel to join her on the dance floor. 'Even though no one else was dancing, Zabel joined Sanchez on the dance floor, after all it was Sanchez's birthday party. 'A significant number of the party attendees looked on as Sanchez and Zabel remained the only ones on the dance floor,' the suit claims. 'As the dancing continued, the onlookers paid more attention to Zabel's dancing rather than to Sanchez (likely because Zabel's dancing outshined Sanchez).' But Sanchez 'grew frustrated' with the attention Zabel was getting, the lawsuit states. 'Eventually, Sanchez flicked Zabel away and turned her back on Zabel in a dramatic, humiliating way. Feeling deeply embarrassed, Zabel left the party immediately.' The following day, Zabel went to see Sanchez to offer a refund for the yoga sessions she had prepaid for. She told her she was not working with her any more because she 'did not deserve to be treated the way Sanchez had treated her at the party'. When Zabel cooled off and tried to reconcile Sanchez allegedly 'ghosted' her. The lawsuit states: 'Sanchez has harbored resentment toward Zabel since this incident and has sought ways to exact revenge. 'One way Sanchez did so was by copying Zabel's children's book, Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, and infringing Zabel's copyright.' The lawsuit states that Sanchez 'clearly' knows about Zabel's children's books – she has written 17 to date – and 'specifically' knows about 'Dharma Kitty'. According to Zabel, by 2019 she thought that Sanchez had 'matured' because she had begun dating Bezos. That year the pair had a chance meeting at Zabel's yoga studio while Sanchez was taking a class: they had a 'big hug' and a brief catch up. In 2022, Zabel reached out to Sanchez after hearing she had been appointed vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, one of Bezos' philanthropic endeavors. Zabel shared specific ideas about a cat who flies to Mars and suggested they could donate the proceeds to the Earth Fund. Zabel also contacted Bezos informing him of the book and got a response saying that 'Bezos had received the email and had directed his team to assist'. Zabel didn't get any further response so published her book in December 2022. Sanchez's book came out in September 2024 and, Zabel alleges, was not inspired by her experience flying with a fly in her helicopter, as she claims according to the lawsuit. 'In fact, for each page of Sanchez's book, the primary subject matter and/or action is taken directly from Zabel's book,' the lawsuit states. The filing includes a page by page comparison of the two books and claims 'the level of similarity' between them could not have occurred without Sanchez copying Zabel's work. Among the similar scenes is a fly looking out the window as its spaceship flies away from Earth, and the main character looking out the window as they ascend upwards. Among the other claims is that Sanchez was 'trolling' Zabel with the design of her spacesuit during her trip on board a Blue Origin vessel in April with an all-female crew which included Katy Perry and Gayle King. Instead of wearing an outfit similar to the other crew members, 'The space suit Sanchez designed instead closely resembles the space suit worn by the main character in Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars,' Zabel claims. Zabel also accuses Sanchez of using her 'connections, including her engagement to Jeff Bezos and her connections with the Kardashian family' to get her own book on the New York Times bestseller list. The lawsuit states that by making her own book a bestseller, Sanchez aimed to 'show up' Zabel because she was using her story. Zabel claims the ordeal has caused her 'severe distress' and 'detracted both psychologically and economically from Zabel's experience of sharing her book'. In addition to damages, Zabel is seeking a permanent injunction forcing Sanchez to comply with the non disclosure agreement she signed. Sanchez interviewed Clinton in March 2010 after his emergency heart surgery to insert a stent. In 2004, he had had quadruple bypass surgery. In the interview, which Sanchez did while working as a reporter for celebrity news show Extra, she smiled when the former president explained he had not been taking care of himself and he needed to exercise six days a week. 'We know that's not going to happen', Sanchez said, Clinton replied: 'No, we do, we do, actually, so I'm exercising more, I'm sleeping a little more every night, and I'm trying to be even more rigorous about the diet'. Pursing her lips, Sanchez said: 'Which means?' Clinton said he was going to eat lots of salads, fruit and vegetables and stay clear of anything that clogged his arteries. Sanchez said: 'So no fun, right? Zabel had sued Sanchez before in a court in state court in Los Angeles but withdrew the suit. She then sued in federal court shortly before the LA wildfires struck. Her refiled paperwork claims she was evacuated twice and volunteered at a trauma clinic in Pacific Palisades, one of the worst affected areas – until it burned down. Zabel says that she worked at a school as a mindfulness instructor and at a school where six of her children lost their homes. Feeling 'overwhelmed' by the emergency, Zabel asked Sanchez for more time to prepare for her lawsuit but she refused, the lawsuit states. As a result Zabel withdrew the lawsuit for a second time and refiled it this week.
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
NATO 5% spending target ‘unreasonable' for Spain: PM
MADRID: Any NATO target to ramp up defence spending to five percent of annual economic output would be 'unreasonable' for Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday ahead of a crucial alliance summit. The June 24-25 gathering in The Hague comes as US President Donald Trump demands other NATO members shoulder a greater burden and Russia's grinding war in Ukraine forces Europe to bolster its own security capabilities. Germany and Poland are among the countries supporting the goal of five percent of gross domestic product, up from a two-percent goal set in 2014, but Spain has resisted its allies' calls to go further. 'For Spain, committing to a 5 percent target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive,' Sanchez told NATO chief Mark Rutte in a letter written in English. Sanchez said each NATO member needed to invest different sums to meet their military capability targets, with the military estimating that 2.1 percent would suffice for Spain. Spain does not want to limit other NATO allies' spending ambitions but seeks 'a more flexible formula' at the summit, Sanchez said. NATO chief hopeful of spending deal as meets allies in Rome This declaration could recognise each NATO ally's different path to its capability target, making the five-percent spending target optional, or exclude Spain from the new goal, Sanchez suggested. In 2024, Spain was the NATO member that dedicated the smallest proportion of its annual economic output to defence and found itself in the firing line of Trump's ire. Sanchez has announced more than 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion) of fresh defence investment to hit the two-percent target this year. But he faces a balancing act of aligning with NATO allies and cajoling his junior coalition partner, the far-left alliance Sumar, which is hostile to increasing military spending. Sanchez argued accelerating spending would rush Spain into defence purchases that could 'exacerbate equipment interoperability challenges' and prevent European suppliers 'from developing their own industrial base'. A spending spree risked weighing down economic growth through higher debt and inflation and diverting investment from areas such as health and education, he warned. 'If we truly want to increase real spending in a sustained way, our main goal should be to ensure that our economies grow significantly.'
