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
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

Spain remains outlier as NATO pushes for 5% defense spending goal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 24 May 2025 14:49
4 Min Read

Some see Madrid’s stance as a threat to the military alliance's unity.

Listen
  • x
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives at Baghdad airport ahead of the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq on May 16, 2025. (AP)
    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives at Baghdad airport ahead of the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 16, 2025 (AP)

Spain's NATO defense spending remains a contentious issue as Madrid continues to resist a proposed NATO commitment to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2032. The benchmark, backed by US President Donald Trump, is being framed as a test of transatlantic solidarity ahead of pivotal alliance meetings in Brussels and The Hague.

According to four officials involved in NATO summit preparations, Spain is the only major holdout on the NATO 5% GDP defense target, raising concerns that its reluctance could disrupt a unified front when defence ministers meet in Brussels on June 5. NATO leadership aims to present full consensus at the subsequent leaders’ summit in The Hague on June 24.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he urged Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares to endorse the target. “We are asking our allies to invest in their defence like they mean it,” said US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker earlier this month.

Rubio, Trump urge allies to increase military budgets

President Trump has warned NATO partners that failure to meet the 5% threshold could endanger US security guarantees. Rubio echoed this stance during his Washington meeting with Albares, part of growing Rubio-Spain defense talks aimed at closing the gap between US expectations and Spain’s current position.

Albares acknowledged the exchange but maintained a cautious tone, “There was an exchange, and both of us expressed our views very clearly. I insisted that it was a huge effort to reach two per cent, and that the debate right now needs to focus on capabilities.”

Related News

White House concerned about unfolding domestic terrorism conspiracy

Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote for 'surrendering Europe' to US

On his part, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles reiterated Madrid’s position during recent NATO discussions. “We understand that the important thing is not so much talking about specific percentages, but rather developing capabilities and fulfilling missions,” she said.

Spain argues that its contributions to NATO, EU, and UN missions are not fully reflected in standard defense spending figures, a view that has often placed it at odds with allies emphasising GDP-based metrics.

Spain’s defense spending trails NATO peers

Spain only recently announced plans to meet NATO’s longstanding 2% target, a commitment Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously pledged to fulfill by 2029. Instead, in a move seen as a response to rising pressure, Sanchez confirmed that Spain would reach the target in 2024 and unveiled a €10 billion military investment initiative. This shift reflects growing scrutiny of the Spain military budget in 2024 but still falls short of NATO’s new ambition.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has proposed that member states allocate 3.5% of GDP to core defense spending, with an additional 1.5% earmarked for related sectors like cyber defense and military infrastructure. While no NATO country currently meets the 5% threshold, officials stress that the 3.5% benchmark is the immediate focus.

Spain’s political, cultural context stand as obstacles

Analysts say Spain’s political and cultural context presents hurdles. “As a country, we come from a tradition that is more pacifist and anti-militarist,” said Bernardo Navazo, director of Madrid-based Geopolitical Insights. He added that while the government acknowledges the need to exceed 2%, building domestic support for 5% will take time.

“For countries like Spain and Italy, it will be very difficult to get their populations to back 5 per cent in a context where people perceive no imminent threat,” Navazo said, despite European concerns over Russia’s regional posture.

If Spain does sign on, NATO ministers are expected to finalize technical details and interim benchmarks during the June meeting. Until then, Madrid’s position continues to shape the broader European defence spending debate and could determine whether NATO presents a unified vision of collective investment and deterrence.

Read more: EU military spending hits critical economic limit, Russia warns

  • United States
  • spending bill
  • Nato
  • Spain
  • defence spending

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

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