NATO's 5% Defense Spending Agreement Provides No Exemptions for Any Allied Nation - Assessment by Lithuanian Foreign Minister
Spain's Defense Spending Plans Under Scrutiny at NATO Summit
VILNIUS - The NATO summit in The Hague is set to reveal a new defense spending deal, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys clarified on Monday that there are no exceptions for any allies - including Spain.
As the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed over the weekend that he had secured an arrangement allowing Spain to meet its NATO commitments without increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP, Budrys asserted, "There is no separate deal for any state, even if someone wants to read something into it."
The upcoming agreement, which was greenlighted by NATO's 32 nations on Sunday, obligates allies to reach 3.5% of GDP on core military needs over the next decade. An additional 1.5% is expected for "defense-related" expenditures such as infrastructure and cybersecurity [1].
Budrys attributed the increased spending to Russia's aggressive policies, the threats it poses, and NATO's objective of building the necessary capabilities for a credible deterrence and defense [1].
Multiple diplomats at NATO confirmed that all members signed off on the agreement, and no special exception was granted to Spain [1].
Despite President Donald Trump's past criticism of Spain's defense spending, the new commitments are expected to reassure him and help NATO build the necessary forces for deterring Russia [1]. In 2024, Spain allocated the smallest share of GDP to defense among NATO members [1].
The renewed defense spending pledge is a significant stepping stone in Europe's efforts to contribute more to NATO defense. The EU's mobilization of €150 billion in defense loans and changes allowing EU members to exceed debt limits for defense purposes have facilitated the transition [2]. Germany's historical constitutional amendment to increase fiscal flexibility for defense spending further positions it as a leader in efforts to meet the new targets [2].
However, the discussions around defense spending come amid tension. Efforts are being made to avoid public confrontations and preserve allied unity [1][2]. The Hague summit takes place amid lingering tensions and discord, including those stemming from the 2018 summit under the Trump administration [1][2].
[1] - Various Diplomatic Sources, Speaking Anonymously or Official NATO Statements
[2] - European Commission Reports, German Constitution Amendments, and Additional NATO Summit Analysis.
- The ongoing discussions about defense spending at the NATO summit, including Spain's commitments, are guided by politics and policy-and-legislation, as nations strive to meet the agreed-upon percentages of GDP for military needs and further strengthen their defense against war-and-conflicts, particularly those instigated by Russia's aggressive policies.
- General-news sources report that the evolution of defense spending plans in Europe, led by Spain's increased commitment, forms a crucial part of the broader political landscape, with tensions and discord being a prominent backdrop, notably at the Hague summit, which follows the 2018 summit under the Trump administration.
