Earlier, the media, including the El Pais daily, reported that Spain suspended preliminary talks on the purchase of American fighters.
The Spanish budget provides EUR 6.25 billion for the purchase of new combat aircraft. In April, the government increased defense expenditure by over 10 billion euros to reach an expenditure level of 2 percent this year. GDP, in line with NATO requirements. “El Pais” emphasizes, however, that as much as 85 percent. These funds are to be invested in the European arms industry.
In place of the F-35 Spain considers the purchase of Eurofighter, produced by the Airbus, Bae Systems and Leonardo consortium, or the new FCAS air combat system – a project that Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra Sisteras are working on. FCAS is also to include six -generation fighters (NGF).
Spanish has been criticizing the US for months, also from President Donald Trump, who accused her of too low defense expenses.
During the June NATO summit in Hague, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized that Spain is not planning to allocate 5 percent. GDP for defense, but agrees to increase expenses to about 2.1 percent. GDP, which in his opinion is enough to meet the requirements of the Alliance.
After signing a contract with the European Union at the end of July, Trump announced that the EU had committed to increasing military purchases in the US, although EU sources pointed out that this issue was not part of the agreement.
