Spain's Stance on Defense Spending
rejected the proposal for a 5% GDP defense spending target, with Prime Minister calling it "unreasonable" and "counterproductive," emphasizing the impact on Spain's welfare state and other expenditures.
Despite the rejection, Spain committed to raising its defense spending to 2% of GDP in 2025, aligning with NATO's previous target, while seeking a more flexible approach to the new proposal.
NATO Summit Dynamics and Adjustments
Amid Spain's opposition, NATO adjusted the spending pledge language from "we commit" to "allies commit," allowing Spain to maintain its current defense budget without adhering to the new target.
The summit in , which includes U.S. President , aimed to unify NATO members around the new spending goal, despite Spain and other countries expressing concerns over the feasibility of meeting the target.