"Clash with NATO's Ambition" Spain Bucks Against NATO's Increased Five-Percent Military Spending Goal
Spain steers towards attaining NATO's five percent defense spending threshold
Have a read! Spain is set to increase military spending this year, hitting the two-percent target. However, Spain isn't too thrilled about NATO's new aim of more than doubling that amount. Prime Minister Sanchez is asking for a pass.
Spain tosses NATO's expected five-percent spending goal in the trash can, labeling it incongruous with the social state. In a missive to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez put it bluntly: "A commitment to a five-percent target would not only be inappropriate but also counterproductive." Thus, Spain won't be committing to a specific spending target at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
Sanchez went on to say that this self-imposed NATO target would sabotage ongoing EU efforts to strengthen its security and defense system. The socialist politician pleaded for a "more flexible formula" that either gives the option to opt-out or excuses Spain from it.
Sanchez blasted the advocates of the new target, stating it's "incompatible with our social state and our worldview." Indirectly, he took a whack at the German government, which has also backed boosting the spending target from two to five percent by the early 2030s, with 3.5 percent earmarked for military spending and 1.5 percent for military-usable infrastructure. The Spanish government claims it only needs to spend 2.1 percent of its GDP to fulfill the estimated investment needs of the Spanish military.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles even called NATO's proposals a "big mistake." She thinks the process should determine capabilities first, then set a percentage target.
Spain is still light-years away from NATO's two-percent target. According to NATO statistics, the country spent only 1.28 percent of its GDP on defense last year, the lowest percentage of all NATO countries. Spain's goal was to reach the two-percent target by 2029.
Recently, Sanchez said he would boost defense spending to two percent of GDP this year. He promised new investments worth over ten billion euros, a whopping 50 percent increase from the current levels. "We must reach the investment goals demanded by our allies," said the socialist. Spain dreams of being a "central and reliable member" of the European Union and NATO. Sanchez guaranteed at the end of April that the additional spending wouldn't result from tax increases, cuts to social spending, or a larger deficit.
- NATO's two-percent target
- NATO
- Spain
- Military
Insights:
- The increased five-percent spending goal would necessitate an extra €80 billion annually, approximately half of what Spain spends on pensions, potentially straining public finances and forcing cuts to welfare, social programs, and green initiatives.
- Sánchez's government advocates a more balanced approach, suggesting around 3.5% expenditure on military equipment and 1.5% on infrastructure and related investments, which also have defensive utility.
- Spain's stance challenges NATO's unity because the alliance requires unanimous agreement on spending targets, and Spain uses its influence to seek exemptions or more flexible targets instead of strict compliance with the 5% threshold.
In light of Spain's disagreement with NATO's increased five-percent military spending goal, Prime Minister Sanchez has expressed concerns about the target being incompatible with the social state and counterproductive to ongoing EU efforts to strengthen security and defense systems. This position puts a strain on NATO's unity, as the alliance requires unanimous agreement on spending targets, and Spain is advocating for more flexible formulas that either offer an opt-out option or grant exemptions.
