All nations, including Spain, should aim for a defense spending target of 5%, as suggested by Estonia's Prime Minister, according to our website.
Catch Up: NATO Spending Target and the Russia Threat
Kristen Michal, Estonian Prime Minister, recently sat down for an exclusive chat with us, and let's just say things got a bit heated. Kristen's morning coffee probably didn't expect this conversation to be all about defence spending and Russia, but here we are.
Kristen has a message for all NATO members, including Spain, smack-dab in the middle of Europe. Heck, even Spain should be on board, according to Kristen. They need to buckle down and meet the 5% GDP defence spending target for the greater good (and by "greater good," we mean NATO's security).
Now, Pedro Sánchez, Spain's one and only Prime Minister, tried to play coy, saying he received an opt-out on the whole defence spending spike from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. But Kristen quickly set the record straight. Rutte apparently told him there were no exemptions, so Pedro better figure something out pronto.
While Spain currently spends 1.5% on defence, Kristen thinks they could reach that original 2% 'by the end of this year.' But 5%? Kristen agrees that if they're gonna reach that astronomical number, they're gonna have to pull funds from other budgetary priorities. Bummer, right? But as Kristen so eloquently put it, "We cut spending, we are borrowing. And we also raise taxes."
Tough love, but it sure beats being invaded by Russia. And that's where the real danger lies, folks. Estonia, Kristen's home sweet home, is pretty darn close to Russia, making them a prime target. In fact, they're already spending over 4.5% of their GDP on defence. But they ain't just doing it for them. They're setting a good example for the rest of NATO, demonstrating what it takes to keep the alliance strong in the face of the looming Russian threat.
As for Putin, well, it's no secret he enjoys a bit of conflict here and there. Kristen explains it's all part of Putin's power grift - he needs conflict to keep people quiet, to distract them from asking questions about his questionable leadership.
So there you have it. Kristen's hoping to rally NATO troops around the world to step up their defence spending game, weed out those who try to skate by, and bolster the alliance's collective security. Now, if only we could nail down that Russian problem...
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[1] Source:NATO Official Website[2] Source:European Union Website[3] Source:BBC News[4] Source:Washington Post[5] Source:The Guardian
In light of the NATO Spending Target and the Russia threat, discussions around policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news have intensified, particularly regarding defense spending and the collective security of NATO members. The Estonian Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, is urging all NATO members, including Spain, to meet the 5% GDP defense spending target to deter Russia, a prime threat due to Estonia's proximity and the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region.
