At the same time, Spain has reaffirmed its status as a reliable ally within NATO. It has resolutely shot down the idea of increasing defense spending to 5% of its GDP. The current Spanish government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has sounded alarm bells. They are convinced that this increase would undermine European attempts to establish their own security and defense structure. At present, Spain spends around 1.28% of its GDP on defence – the lowest of all NATO’s members.
In a statement, Sanchez emphasized that Spain intends to accelerate its efforts to meet NATO’s existing goal of 2% spending. He contended that going above this target would threaten the sustainability of the welfare state and be inconsistent with Spain’s wider policy goals. For now, Sanchez has indicated that Spain will not stand in the way of discussions to begin at the forthcoming NATO summit. The country is vehemently against the spending increase proposed.
Complications in NATO Negotiations
Spain’s refusal complicates ongoing negotiations regarding NATO’s defence spending targets. Any new agreement would require unanimous approval of all 32 member nations. This provides Spain with a massive amount of leverage to stall, and possibly even reconfigure, the proposed pact. In doing so, the Spanish government has made a formal request to not join NATO’s new ambitious opt-in 5% target.
Political analysts say Sanchez’s rejection will have ramifications for debate both in Spain and among NATO allies. Professor Josa Miguel Calvillo from Complutense University of Madrid remarked on the implications of such a commitment, stating, “Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but counterproductive.”
We’re grateful Sanchez has raised this significant question. If the government requires parliamentary support for any new increase in spending, which it likely will, then it could face significant saffles in today’s political climate.
Diverging Opinions Within NATO
Italy is not the only country that has proven lukewarm to a proposed 5% overall increase. According to media reports, Italy is leading efforts to extend the compliance deadline for the new target from 2032 to 2035. In addition to these reforms, they are suggesting cutting the annual spending increases of 0.2%. This divergence served to raise the curtain on deeply varying priorities among NATO members when it comes to defence spending.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte recently offered an interesting alternative formula for military spending. The former Pentagon planner proposes 3.5% of GDP for core military essentials and another 1.5% for expanded security needs. Yet, Spain’s political left is still deeply mistrustful of any significant boost to defence spending.
The Bigger Picture
The United States remains one of NATO’s most influential and largest contributors. In 2024, it is projected that the country will spend 3.38% of its GDP on defense. Former President Donald Trump infamously railed against European allies for not pulling their weight. He promised to cut aid to countries that don’t fulfill their budgetary obligations.
Spain’s stand is indicative of a balancing act that attempts to fulfill Spain’s NATO obligations while protecting domestic interests. With this time of year’s increasing focus on the forthcoming summit, those conversations are intensifying. The results of these discussions will hopefully reshape NATO investments and bolster collective security initiatives.
