Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.

Spain rejects NATO's 'unreasonable' 5% defense spending proposal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Jun 2025 09:19
3 Min Read

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez opposes NATO's proposal to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, calling it unreasonable and incompatible with Spain’s welfare goals.

Listen
  • x
  • Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for a European Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium on March 21, 2024. (AP)
    Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for a European Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 21, 2024. (AP)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has publicly rejected a new proposal from NATO to raise defense spending among member states to 5% of GDP, calling the plan "unreasonable" and "counterproductive." The proposal, introduced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in response to demands from US President Donald Trump, seeks to boost contributions from member nations.

Sanchez emphasized that while he does not intend to complicate next week's NATO summit in The Hague, he advocates for a more flexible approach that would either make the 5% target optional or allow Spain to opt out entirely. In a letter to Rutte, he argued that the plan would be incompatible with Spain's welfare priorities and its broader global vision.

"Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive because it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem," Sánchez wrote.

Sánchez calls for flexibility ahead of NATO summit

Related News

Donroe Doctrine: Trump’s neocolonial drive in Latin America

Aoun, Arab League SG meet, discuss 'Israel' and regional tensions

Spain currently allocates about 1.3% of its GDP to defense spending, significantly below NATO's 2% target. The Spanish government has proposed increasing this to 2.1%. In April, Sánchez announced a €10.5 billion industrial and technological plan aimed at reaching the 2% threshold by the end of the year, asserting that "only Europe will know how to protect Europe." 

The push for higher defense spending stems from ongoing pressure by Donald Trump, who in January insisted that NATO members should contribute 5% of their GDP. In response, Rutte has called on allies to see the US stance as motivation for unilateral increases in defense budgets.

Rutte’s plan suggests that NATO members commit 3.5% of GDP to direct defense spending and an additional 1.5% to broader security initiatives. He has pointed to positive responses in countries like Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Italy, arguing that pressure is yielding results.

"I tell them that, well, now I am calling you to ask you to deliver the 2% by the summer, so that collectively we can move considerably north of the 2% because we have to spend much, much more," Rutte said in March.

Despite its current standing, Spain has begun taking steps to modernize its military capabilities. The €10.5 billion plan includes industrial and technological upgrades aligned with NATO goals, but within the framework of Spain’s social and economic priorities. A NATO official confirmed that discussions about the new defense investment plan are still ongoing among allies.

Read more: After NATO, EU pressure, Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine

  • United States
  • Defense budget
  • Nato
  • Spain
  • Pedro Sanchez
  • eurp[e
  • Nato Alliance
  • defense spending
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS