Spain Rejects NATO Defense Spending Increase, Casting Doubt on Summit Success

The Netherlands Estimates Additional Defense Spending For NATO Plans

The Netherlands estimates that NATO’s defense plans would force it to dedicate at least 3.5% to core defense spending. This means finding an additional 16 to 19 billion euros ($18 to $22 billion). Supplying arms and ammunition to Ukraine, which Spain does, will also be included as core defense spending.

The success of a key NATO summit hung in the balance on Friday, after Spain announced that it cannot raise the billions of dollars needed to meet a new defense investment pledge demanded by the U.S. Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to spend 5% of GDP on defense needs that’s due to be announced next week, calling it “unreasonable.” In a letter sent Thursday to NATO, Spain expressed its concerns about committing to such a high target.

A NATO official on Thursday said that discussions among allies were ongoing about a new defense spending plan. “For Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also impractical,” the official stated. Spain’s refusal to adhere to the proposed investment pledge could potentially impact the decisions made at the upcoming summit.

Trump has cast doubt over whether the U.S. would defend allies that spend too little on defense. Setting the spending goal would be a historic decision, as it would require all 32 countries to invest the same amount in their defense capabilities. The U.S. itself spent around 3.2% of GDP on defense last year, making it one of the top contributors to NATO’s collective defense.

Spain has asked to opt out of NATO’s plan to increase members’ defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, a move that could potentially derail the summit’s agenda. In a statement, the prime minister’s office emphasized that Spain remains a “serious, responsible, and committed ally of NATO,” despite its stance on the proposed defense investment pledge. The government highlighted that defense spending had been increased by 70% in recent years, demonstrating its dedication to security and defense cooperation.

As the only major country in NATO that completely rejects the 3.5%+1.5% formula proposed by Secretary-General Mark Rutte for all allies, Spain’s position could shape the discussions and outcomes of the upcoming NATO summit. The disagreements over defense spending targets highlight the challenges and complexities of ensuring collective security and defense within the alliance.