In a move to secure cooperation from Madrid, NATO leaders are set to adopt new language on Wednesday, modifying the commitment from “we commit” to “allies commit” regarding defense spending. This change, according to a NATO official, will provide Spain with spending flexibility as long as it adheres to the alliance’s updated capability targets established by defense ministers on June 5.
On Sunday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized the agreement as a “success,” asserting that it will enable Spain to meet its obligations to the Atlantic alliance while preserving its unity without the necessity of raising defense spending to 5 percent of its GDP.
“Each NATO member … has the right and the obligation to choose whether or not to assume those sacrifices, and we as a sovereign country choose not to do so,” Sánchez stated, emphasizing Spain’s position.
He went on to confirm that Spain will allocate 2.1 percent of its GDP for defense, which will facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of the personnel, equipment, and infrastructure required to address emerging threats.
This demand was initially brought to light by former U.S. President Donald Trump and is set to be ratified by NATO leaders during their upcoming meeting in The Hague. Supporting Sánchez’s stance, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed in a note that the forthcoming summit agreement will allow Spain the autonomy to chart its own course in achieving the Capability Target goal, along with determining the necessary annual resources as a share of GDP and submitting its own plans annually.
Rutte noted that the alliance intends to reassess its spending trajectory in 2029.