Spain Aims to Meet NATO Defense Spending Goal by 2025

Spain, despite being the fourth-largest economy in the European Union, has historically lagged in defense spending among NATO members. In a surprising announcement, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared that the country plans to meet NATO's defense expenditure target of two percent of its GDP by 2025, a significant advancement from their previous timeline of 2029.

To achieve this goal, Spain will allocate an additional EUR10.5 billion to its military budget. Sánchez emphasized that parliamentary approval is not required for this increase, as it falls within the purview of the executive branch.

Currently, Spain's military spending stands at approximately EUR20 billion, which is about 1.3 percent of its GDP, placing it among the lowest spenders in the alliance. NATO member states agreed over a decade ago to strive towards the two percent benchmark, a commitment that has faced scrutiny, especially from the United States, where officials have suggested raising the target to five percent.

The proposed increase in defense spending has sparked debate within Spain's coalition government. Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz, who leads the junior coalition partner Sumar, has voiced opposition, arguing that the militarization of Europe is not a constructive path forward.

In his address, Sánchez indicated he would present the government's plans in parliament soon, despite the lack of need for parliamentary consent. He called for unity among political parties to prioritize national and European interests, assuring that social spending would remain unaffected and that the additional military expenditure would not necessitate new taxes, citing the favorable performance of the Spanish economy.

This announcement marks a pivotal shift in Spain's defense policy, aligning more closely with NATO's expectations and responding to increasing calls for enhanced military readiness within Europe.