Spain insists 2% of GDP for defence is enough despite NATO and US pushing for more.
Spain is holding firm on its decision to spend 2% of its GDP on defence, even as calls grow from NATO allies and the US to go beyond that target. Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Thursday that the country believes this amount is enough to fulfill its global military duties.
“What matters most is sticking to what we promised,” said Robles, who also emphasized that Spain respects the guidelines but sees no need to go beyond them for now.
She confirmed that Spain will not stand in the way if NATO agrees to raise the defence target during the upcoming summit in The Hague. However, she added that every country should be allowed to manage its own defence budget based on its priorities.
Spain Speeds Up Its Defence Plan
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez revealed that Spain would add 10.5 billion euros to its military budget, speeding up its journey to meet the 2% goal. Initially, Spain had aimed to reach this mark by 2029, but the new plan brings the deadline forward to this year.
Still, even with this move, Spain finds itself under intense scrutiny. Last year, the country only spent 1.3% of its GDP on defence—the lowest rate among NATO nations. Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s defence commissioner, has called on Spain to go even further by aiming for 3%.
At the current exchange rate, $1 equals around 0.8755 euros, making the increased budget a significant commitment by Spain. But despite the push from international allies, Spain is standing by its choice and insists that quality, not just quantity, is what counts in defence efforts.
