Spain Opts Out of NATO’s 5% Defence Spending Target

Spain has formally declined NATO’s recommendation to raise military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, committing instead to a 2.1 % ceiling.

President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, argues that the higher threshold would undermine welfare priorities and fiscal prudence, urging smarter defence investments over increased outlay.

This divergent stance is raising eyebrows in Brussels and Washington and may hinder broader EU–U.S. discussions on defence and trade.