Spain Rejects Trump’s 5% NATO Defense Spending Demand/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Spain’s refusal to back NATO’s dramatic defense-spending increase to 5% of GDP has cast doubt on the upcoming summit’s success. U.S. President Trump insists allies must boost military budgets significantly, but Spain and other nations warn of impracticality and risk undermining EU defense priorities.
5% NATO Spending Increase + Quick Looks
- Spain publicly says 5% GDP defense target is “unreasonable, counterproductive”
- Belgium, Canada, France, Italy may struggle to meet such a steep hike
- NATO Secretary-General Rutte working to resolve disagreements ahead of summit
- Defense increase would split into core spending (3.5%) + infrastructure (1.5%)
- 2032 floated as deadline; differing views on timeframes persist
- EU stronger role overshadowed as Spain fears undermining EU defense push
Spain Rejects Trump’s 5% NATO Defense Spending Demand
Deep Look
Spain Rejects 5% Defense Goal
In a letter to NATO Sec‑Gen Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared that committing to a 5% GDP defense target “would be unreasonable, but also counterproductive.” He argued it would harm Spain’s economic stability and undermine ongoing efforts within the European Union to bolster collective defense.
Not Spain Alone—But First to Speak Out
Other NATO states—Belgium, Canada, France, and Italy—also face steep hurdles raising billions for defense. Spain is the first to formally reject the plan, making it difficult to quietly retreat from the proposal without drawing attention to divisions emergent ahead of next week’s summit in the Netherlands.
Summit Stakes High, Trump Pushes Hard
President Donald Trump urges all 32 NATO members to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense, warning that the U.S. might reconsider its security guarantees if allies lag. This meeting is Trump’s chance to secure binding commitments, as he did in NATO’s 2018 summit; failures then triggered tensions that resurfaced during his tenure.
Calculating 5%: Core and Dual-Use Investments
- 3.5% core defense spending: weapons, personnel, readiness.
- 1.5% dual-use infrastructure: roads, bridges, airfields enabling defense mobility and societal resilience.
Sec‑Gen Rutte and others argue that both are essential—without deployment infrastructure, high defense budgets alone won’t deter aggression.
Reaching the Target—By 2032?
- Sec‑Gen Rutte plans for member nations to submit yearly increase roadmaps.
- Italy wants a 10-year timeline; the U.S. prefers a shorter commitment period.
- The 2032 deadline stems from analysis suggesting Russia might develop the capacity for sudden attacks within 5–10 years.
Broader Context: Shoots Out of Russia and China
Europe’s increased defense focus was driven by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO raised the previous spending floor to 2% GDP, then shifted to 3% in 2023.
Now, an additional 2% aims to counter imminent threats—Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. asserts China is another emerging strategic challenge.
EU vs. NATO Debate
Sánchez warns that going beyond 2% in NATO spending could clash with EU strategies to build autonomous security capabilities. While the U.S. insists Europe must bear more of the collective defense burden, Spain wants to ensure alignment within EU mechanisms.
Political Realities in Spain
Spain’s precarious governing coalition, burdened by corruption allegations affecting Sánchez’s inner circle, faces domestic pressure. Any aggressive defense spending hike could prompt backlash and even early elections.
Economic and Political Costs
Raising defense funding by billions would compel countries to select revenue options: higher taxes, budget cuts elsewhere, or debt. Trump’s global tariffs further complicate economic conditions across Europe, making such reallocation politically delicate.
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