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Spain risks derailing NATO summit by resisting 5% defense spending goal

Japan Times

7 hours ago

Business
Japan Times

Spain risks derailing NATO summit by resisting 5% defense spending goal

Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defense spending to 5% 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 defense spending — a response to a request by U.S. President Donald Trump — would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states. "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 defense 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% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defense in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2%. Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% 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 NATO official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defense investment plan are ongoing." The U.S., which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38% of GDP on defense in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance. Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defense and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short. Sanchez, however, said that rushing to a 5% target would harm European Union efforts to become self-reliant in defense production, pushing governments to procure equipment outside the bloc and that it was "incompatible with our welfare state and our world vision." Junior coalition partners, the far-left Sumar platform, oppose any increase, as does the Podemos party, which is not part of the coalition but has supported the government in key votes. Now, a corruption scandal engulfing the prime minister's Socialist party has generated fury among coalition partners and allies, even raising the specter of an early election. "If the government needs parliamentary support to approve spending, it will have a very difficult time in the current situation," Jose Miguel Calvillo, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid. 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 year, a source with knowledge of the matter said. "It doesn't look good, indeed, but we are not over yet," said one senior European official in relation to Sanchez's letter. "We will have in-depth discussions tomorrow, and perhaps we find a way out. Spain has demonstrated to be a steadfast ally so far."

Spain rejects NATO's anticipated defense spending increase as 'unreasonable'

The Independent

20 hours ago

Business
The Independent

Spain rejects NATO's anticipated defense spending increase as 'unreasonable'

Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to spend 5% of GDP on defense needs that's due to be announced next week, calling it 'unreasonable.' In a letter sent Thursday to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that Spain 'cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP' at next week's NATO summit in The Hague. Most U.S. allies at NATO are on track to endorse U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense and military needs. In early June, Sweden and the Netherlands said that they aim to meet the new target. A NATO official on Thursday said discussions between allies on a new defense spending plan were ongoing. 'For Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain away from optimal spending and it would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem,' Sánchez wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press. Spain was the lowest spender in the 32-nation military alliance last year, directing less than 2% of its GDP on defense expenditure. In April, Sánchez said the government would raise defense spending by 10.5 billion euros ($12 billion) in 2025 to reach NATO's previous target of 2% of GDP. Sánchez asked for 'a more flexible formula' in relation to a new spending target — that either made it optional or left Spain out from its application. NATO allies agreed to spend 2% of GDP on military expenditure after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. But the alliance's plans for defending Europe and North America against a Russian attack require investments of at least 3%. The aim now is to raise the bar to 3.5% for core defense spending on tanks, warplanes, air defense, missiles and hiring extra troops. A further 1.5% would be spent on things like roads, bridges, ports and airfields so armies can deploy more quickly, as well as preparing societies for possible attack. Rutte had been due to table a new proposal on Friday aimed at satisfying Spain. European allies and Canada are keen to finalize the spending pledge before the summit, and not leave it open for any heated debate that might drag the meeting out. Poland and the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have already publicly committed to 5%, and Rutte has said that most allies were ready to endorse the goal. A big question still to be answered is what time-frame countries will get to reach the new spending goals. A target date of 2032 was initially floated, but Rutte has said that Russia could be ready to launch an attack on NATO territory by 2030. ___

BBC News

2 days ago

Politics
BBC News

The Inquiry Are we closer to a European army?

Available for over a year During a speech to the Spanish parliament earlier this year, the country's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed there's one thing that would guarantee lasting peace in Europe. His idea is the creation of a new army drawn from the 27 countries whose governments already work together as members of the European Union. The concept isn't a new one - and NATO already exists, the military alliance which includes EU member states and other European countries. But talk of a new military force is reappearing as the continent becomes more vulnerable to threats. Its ally the US is increasingly unreliable and unpredictable too. Other European leaders are also backing the idea This week we're asking - 'Are we closer to a European army?' Contributors: Dick Zandee, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Security and Defence Programme at the Clingendael Institute Dr Ulrike Franke, Senior Policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Oana Lungescu, Distinguished fellow with the Royal United Services Institute and former NATO spokesperson Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop, Director of the Europe in the World Programme at Egmont. Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Daniel Rosney Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Toby James Production Coordinator - Tammy Snow (Image Credit: FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images)

NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense

Washington Post

09-06-2025

Politics
Washington Post

NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense

LONDON — NATO members need to increase their air and missile defenses by 400% to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance plans to say on Monday. Secretary-General Mark Rutte will say during a visit to London that NATO must take a 'quantum leap in our collective defense' to face growing instability and threats, according to extracts released by NATO before Rutte's speech.

NATO's Rutte Calls For ‘Quantum Leap' in Defense Investment

Bloomberg