Spain is under scrutiny regarding its commitment to NATO’s newly established defense spending goal. The alliance’s chief, Mark Rutte, has expressed skepticism about Spain’s capability to meet the lower spending expectations it claims to have negotiated. NATO allies recently agreed on a target of spending 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2035. This includes 3.5 percent earmarked for ‘hard defense’ expenditures, such as military personnel and equipment, along with an additional 1.5 percent dedicated to defense-related investments like cybersecurity and military mobility.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated on Sunday that Spain would only need to allocate 2.1 percent of its GDP to fulfill its obligations in terms of personnel, equipment, and infrastructure necessary to address current threats. However, Rutte challenged this assertion, suggesting that it is highly improbable.
“Spain thinks they can achieve those targets with 2.1 percent spending. NATO is absolutely convinced that Spain will have to spend 3.5 percent to get there,”
Rutte remarked at a press conference in The Hague, just ahead of the NATO leaders’ summit. He further emphasized, “NATO has no opt-out and NATO doesn’t know side deals.” As part of the new agreement, each member country will be required to regularly report on their progress in achieving these classified capability targets, with a review scheduled for 2029.
Reactions from other NATO members
Spain’s resistance to the 5 percent target has resonated with other NATO nations that also maintain low defense spending. Following Spain’s stance, Belgium announced its intent to seek “maximum flexibility” from NATO. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot assured local media that although Belgium did not make as significant a public statement as Spain, diplomatic efforts were actively underway to secure flexibility mechanisms.
Last week, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever acknowledged the government’s support for NATO’s new defense spending target, referring to it as a “bitter pill to swallow.” This suggests a growing trend among member nations to negotiate their defense expenditures amid the evolving security landscape.