The new purpose of these expenses set at the meeting of heads of nato states and governments is 5 percent. GDP per year and is to be achieved by 2035, i.e. it is 10 years to complete it, with progress every year. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Prime Minister Sanchez presented a hard position that his country would not spend more than 2.1 percent.
On Wednesday, however, he announced that the state would achieve new NATO goals regarding defense expenditure. He repeated, however, that in his opinion expenses of 2 percent. GDPs are appropriate and withworthy of the principles of a guardianship state. In other words, he expects that he will have to cut some social expenses to be enough for the army.
5 percent GDP for defense
According to the plan, which the leaders adopted at the NATO summit, all Member States undertook to allocate 5 percent. GDP for broadly understood defense purposes, including at least 3.5 percent For the needs of the armed forces – from air defense systems, through ammunition and drones, to tanks and soldiers. The remaining 1.5 percent It is to be invested in projects supporting safety and deterrent.
– This is a qualitative jump in our collective defense. All allies recognize the seriousness of threats – from Russia, through terrorism, to cyber attacks – and respond to them together, “said NATO Secretary General.
Output option for Spain outdated
Although all Member States supported the new expenditure threshold, Spain stated that it would have the option of getting out of the arrangements, claiming that it was fulfilling its obligations towards the alliance. On Wednesday, this option was gone.
– We fully respect the justified desire for other countries to increase our investments in defense, but we do not intend to do it – said Sanchez in a speech on Spanish television.
The Dutchman asked about it on Wednesday, he replied that “Spain is seriously approaching the goal of expenses. ”
According to NATO estimates, Spain spent only 1.24 percent in 2024 GDP for defense, i.e. around EUR 17.2 billion, which placed on it The lowest place among the alliance countries in terms of defense expenditure in relation to GDP.
Rutte emphasized that all alliance countries have already reached a 2 % threshold. GDP for defense, or They will do it this year, which would mean a significant increase in the case of Spain.
Rutte also stated that it can be safely assumed that the United States has already “more or less” achieved the purpose of defense expenditure at 5 percent.
He also assessed that US President Donald Trump deserves “all praise” for persuading NATO members to agree to a new purpose.
Reinforcement of the arms industry
The Secretary General of the Alliance announced that the decisions made in the Hague also mean further strengthening of the arms industry on both sides of the Atlantic, including in cooperation with the European Union, Ukraine and partners from the Indo-Pacific region. These activities are to bring not only an increase in safety, but also millions of new jobs.
– It was a breakthrough day for the alliance. We move from the declaration to action. NATO will be ready to defend every centimeter of territory and ensure the security of over 1 billion of our citizens – he concluded.
