The politician commented on earlier reports of the “El Pais” daily about a step planned by the government. She noticed that this is a routine operation to adapt the budget to current needs, and support for the Ministry of Defense “has no special features” and is not a new expense.
The Pedro Sanchez government operates all the time based on the extended budget from the previous year due to the lack of support in parliament. The last full budget for 2023 was adopted in December of the previous year.
Spain is under the growing pressure of allies, including the US, due to low defense expenses. However, the government emphasizes that the transfer of funds announced on Saturday is not related to Madrid's obligations under NATO.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday at a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries in Brussels that members of the alliance should spend at least 5 percent. Defense GDP. This is much more than the current expenses of Spain, which in 2024 allocated only 1.3 percent for the army. – The least in NATO.
The Pedro Sanchez government maintains that it will achieve a goal of 2 percent. GDP until 2029. The problem in adopting new funds is, among others The resistance of the coalition, extremely left -wing party Sumar, which is afraid of cuts in social policy.
On Tuesday, during a visit to Lisbon, the Minister of Defense of Spanish Margarita Robles announced that the country would achieve “a lot before 2029” level 2 percent Defense GDP.
