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Spain refuses to raise defense spending to 5 percent ahead of NATO's Ankara Summit
Spain will reject demands to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP at NATO's Ankara summit. Instead, the country is proposing an alternative model that strengthens security while reforming the welfare state and public finances.
The Spanish government is preparing to reject demands to raise defense spending to 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at NATO's summit in Ankara.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will once again turn down the demands of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump at the summit on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sources from the Spanish Prime Minister's office state that instead of raising defense spending to 5 percent, the country is proposing the development of a model that would enhance security while strengthening the welfare state and reforming public finances.
Spain has tripled its defense investments since 2018, reaching 2 percent of GDP, a ratio that aligns with NATO's capability targets.
Among the 32 NATO members, the country ranks seventh in capability level, third in the number of troops deployed to peacekeeping missions, and first in military contributions to the alliance's eastern flank.
Spain, which has provided a total of 3 billion 795 million euros in support to Ukraine, has undertaken the training of more than 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil. By June 2026, it will become the country deploying the most troops outside its borders on the alliance's eastern flank.
Spain is also one of the few allies carrying out strategic command roles, such as the maritime component of the NATO Response Force and the multinational brigade in Slovakia.
Prime Ministry sources emphasized that there is a strong conviction that many countries committed to the target of raising defense spending to 5 percent will not be able to reach that ratio.
Pointing out that NATO documents clearly show Spain is a significant ally, contrary to the statements of Rutte and Trump, the sources said Sanchez will go to the Ankara summit 'having fulfilled his duty, with his head held high and at ease'.
Spain views Russia as a major threat in the short, medium and long term and advocates for a 'Europe and a European army' project that is less dependent on the US, invests more in itself, and strengthens its defense.
Turkey is hosting a NATO summit for the second time in its history, 22 years after the 2004 Istanbul Summit. The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara holds great importance in light of the challenges facing the alliance and developments in the global security architecture.
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