NATO turns on the afterburner. Expenditure on the defense of the alliance will increase to 5 percent. GDP

NATO Member States agreed on Sunday the content of the statement prepared for the upcoming peak of the alliance in the Hague, in which they agreed to set a new purpose of defense expenditure and raising it to 5 percent. GDP – said the Reuters agency.

The new degree of expenses should be achieved – according to the information that Reuters referred to – by 2035. The alliance members managed to overcome the opposition of Spain – the agency said, citing diplomats close to the case.

Sources added that the declaration was adopted by all NATO countries, but will be officially presented only after the approval of the leaders during the peak in The Hague.

Spanish Prime Minister: We will not be obliged

Spain will not be obliged to increase defense expenditure to a level of 5 percent. GDP under NATO – Pedro Sanchez Prime Minister of Spanish Prime Minister said at a press conference on a press conference.

“Respecting the sovereignty of every ally in the field of allocating his resources, For Spain, it makes no sense to allocate 5 percent. GDP. The spreading issue of billions of euros would not make us better allies, “the prime minister announced. He added that his country will spend 2.1 percent of GDP on defense.

The Spanish government came to an agreement with the North Atlantic Alliance a few days before the NATO summit in Hague, which will take place on June 24-25. The Secretary General of the Alliance Mark Rutte is to present on it to the Member States a proposal to allocate 5 percent. GDP for defense, including 3.5 percent for basic defense expenses and 1.5 percent for infrastructure and industrial investments related to security. (PAP)

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