Spain has refused to endorse a proposed NATO target requiring member states to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, risking friction ahead of next week’s alliance summit in The Hague.
In a letter sent Thursday to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Sánchez said Spain “cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP,” proposing instead a more flexible or optional approach. The move could potentially derail the upcoming NATO summit, which will be attended by US President Donald Trump and other key allies.
Spain spent less than 2% of GDP on defense last year, the lowest in the trans-Atlantic alliance. Although Sánchez pledged in April to raise defense spending by €10.5 billion in 2025 to meet NATO’s existing 2% target, he argued that jumping to 5% would divert critical resources from public services and Spain’s green transition efforts.
“For Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive,” Sánchez wrote, adding that such a policy “would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its own security and defense ecosystem.”
While most NATO allies appear ready to back the new US-led initiative—designed to counter Russia’s growing threat—Spain has pushed for consensus-based decision-making and advocated for more sustainable, tailored approaches to national defense.
The proposed 5% spending framework includes 3.5% for core military needs such as tanks, fighter jets, and missile systems, and 1.5% for logistical and civilian infrastructure improvements to support rapid military deployment and societal readiness.
Sánchez's stance comes amid rising domestic pressure due to ongoing corruption scandals involving his inner circle and family. Increased defense spending has also sparked criticism from members of his governing coalition, particularly those on the left.
The NATO summit is scheduled to begin next week in The Hague.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
Kazakhstan will establish regional water risk management headquarters to address growing water challenges during the vegetation season, the government announced following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has warned that global refugee protection is facing unprecedented threats, with more than 122 million people forcibly displaced amid ongoing conflicts and shrinking humanitarian aid.
A new freight route connecting eastern China to Azerbaijan via Turkmenistan has officially been launched, marking a significant expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, also known as the Middle Corridor.
Tesla has secured a major agreement to build its first grid-scale battery storage station in China, local media outlet Yicai reported Friday.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
Kazakhstan will establish regional water risk management headquarters to address growing water challenges during the vegetation season, the government announced following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has warned that global refugee protection is facing unprecedented threats, with more than 122 million people forcibly displaced amid ongoing conflicts and shrinking humanitarian aid.
A new freight route connecting eastern China to Azerbaijan via Turkmenistan has officially been launched, marking a significant expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, also known as the Middle Corridor.
Tesla has secured a major agreement to build its first grid-scale battery storage station in China, local media outlet Yicai reported Friday.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Tesla has secured a major agreement to build its first grid-scale battery storage station in China, local media outlet Yicai reported Friday.
Iran has fired a new round of missiles at Israel, with reports of strikes in several locations, as tensions between the two countries continue.
A mine collapse in rebel-held eastern DR Congo has left at least 12 people dead, with others managing to escape. The cause of the disaster remains unknown.
Ilham Aliyev and UFC president Dana White discussed the upcoming UFC event in Baku, highlighting Azerbaijan's growing role in global sports.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
Kazakhstan will establish regional water risk management headquarters to address growing water challenges during the vegetation season, the government announced following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has warned that global refugee protection is facing unprecedented threats, with more than 122 million people forcibly displaced amid ongoing conflicts and shrinking humanitarian aid.
A new freight route connecting eastern China to Azerbaijan via Turkmenistan has officially been launched, marking a significant expansion of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, also known as the Middle Corridor.
Tesla has secured a major agreement to build its first grid-scale battery storage station in China, local media outlet Yicai reported Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment