Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – as it happened | Europe

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has reportedly told Nato secretary general Mark Rutte that the proposed change of the alliance’s target for defence spending to 5% GDP “would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive,” as reported by the Spanish media.

In a letter responding to Rutte’s proposals for next week’s Nato summit in the Hague, first reported by the Spanish newspaper El País, Sánchez declared his opposition for the proposed change arguing “it is not necessary to fulfil our commitments to the alliance.”

He explained that the figure “has nothing to do with the level of commitment to collective defence,” with Spain confidence it can do enough with lower spending.

He added that adopting the target would have adverse effects for the Spanish economy, as it would force the government to raise taxes, cut public services and slow down its plans on green transition. “We choose not to make those sacrifices,” he reportedly said.

The paper said that the new Nato target had been expected to be adopted unanimously, but Spain’s objection could now trigger further discussions on its adoption.

A government source told El País that Spain did not want to “veto anything” for other countries, but make it clear “we can’t commit to it.”

The Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE, also reported on the letter.

The latest available set of Nato figures showed Spain at 1.3% GDP defence spending, the lowest of all members of the alliance. In April, the government unveiled reluctant plans to get up to 2%.

The clash comes at a tricky time for Sánchez, who is facing growing criticism at home over corruption allegations.

The main advocate of the new 5% target, US president Donald Trump, targeted Spain in his early comments on defence spending in January, when he wrongly said it was a member of the Brics grouping of nations, and that was the reason behind it not maintaining higher defence spending levels.