Spain Rejects NATO’s 5% Defence Spending Hike as ‘Counterproductive’

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected NATO’s proposed defence spending target of 5 percent of GDP, warning that it would undermine EU efforts to build its own security and defence base. The rejection comes amid pressure from the US, which has repeatedly claimed European allies are not pulling their weight in defence spending.

Sanchez wrote to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, urging a more flexible framework, saying committing to a 5% target would be “unreasonable” and “counterproductive”. He argued that it would force EU states to buy military equipment from outside the bloc, damaging self-sufficiency in defence.

Spain currently spends around 1.28% of its GDP on defence, the lowest among NATO members. Sanchez aims to accelerate the country’s path to NATO’s current 2% goal but believes going beyond this risked harming the welfare state and compromising Spain’s policy vision.

The US has estimated it will spend 3.38% of its GDP on defence in 2024, with President Trump calling for more fair sharing among allies. However, Sanchez says rushing to meet a 5% target would be difficult given the country’s current spending level. Spain’s left-wing parties oppose the move, complicating negotiations.

The issue is set to be discussed at the upcoming NATO summit, where discussions are ongoing despite Spain’s rejection. A senior European official stated that while it complicates talks, Spain remains a “steadfast ally”.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/6/19/spain-rejects-natos-5-defence-spending-hike-as-counterproductive