Madrid (Spain), June 19 (LaPresse) – Spain refuses to commit to the goal of allocating 5% of its GDP to defense spending over the next decade, as proposed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to the allies. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a letter to Rutte, accessed by El País, in which he warns that "for Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive, moving Spain away from optimal spending and hindering the EU's efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem."
Yesterday, Rutte sent a draft declaration to the 32 allied capitals, which is to be approved at the Hague summit on June 24–25, proposing that all Allies commit to investing 3.5% of their annual GDP in strictly military investments, and another 1.5% annually on defense-related expenditures. The initial timeline, first set for 2030 and then for 2032, has ultimately been postponed to 2035, notes El País, highlighting that the text would have become final if no country objected.
Sanchez's letter breaks this silence, and therefore, from now on, it will be necessary to negotiate a new declaration or find a procedure that excludes Spain from this commitment. Madrid does not intend to veto the proposal and does not oppose other countries setting the 5% goal, but “we cannot commit ourselves in that regard,” government sources explained.