Military expenditure | NATO would have agreed on a 5 % increase in GDP

(Brussels) NATO countries sealed on Sunday. Nevertheless, a few days before their Haye summit, an agreement for a drastic increase in their security expenses, however compromised by Spain which ensures that it is exempt.

Posted yesterday at 9:26 p.m.

Spain had clearly expressed its opposition last week. In addition, but several alliance diplomats assured Sunday that a compromise had been found this weekend after intense negotiations. Consequently, This compromise takes up the objective of 5 %, without any exemption, they still stressed.

The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. however, said the opposite, and sowed doubt about the results of the military expenditure | nato would summit in the Netherlands.

“Spain has just concluded an agreement with NATO […] which will allow us to respect our commitments to the Atlantic Alliance […] Without having to increase our defense expenses up to 5 % of the gross domestic product. “he said during a statement on Sunday at the Moncloa Palace, the headquarters of the government.

For the Spanish government. the new formulation of the text, which must serve as a basis for an agreement in The Hague, mentions “the Allies” when the previous version evoked “all the allies”.

This “key change reflects our position: not all allies are forced to 5 %”, it was assured of a Spanish government source.

No exemption

But in Brussels. there is no question of exemption, Madrid having military expenditure | nato would just obtained that the deadline to achieve this objective of 5 % was increased from 2032 to 2035, according to several diplomats.

The compromise torn down on Sunday was supposed to release the path for an agreement to The Hague. and represent a diplomatic victory for Donald Trump.

The latter. since his return to the White House, has continued to claim European allies and Canada which they spend much more, demanding a level of 5 % of their GDP, failing which he threatened to no longer defend them.

Mr. Rutte had then resumed this figure on his own, however, script in two with 3.5 % of GDP of military expenditure stricto sensu and 1.5 % of security expenditure in the broad sense, such as cybersecurity or military mobility.

This last military expenditure | nato would category of expenditure is more easily achievable insofar as it is expenses already provided for. envisaged by states.

Regarding the 3.5 %, they correspond to the essential increase in NATO military capacities in the face of the Russian threat, underlines the alliance.

However, Spain claims to be able to fulfill its objectives in terms of military capacities with only 2.1 % GDP.

“Our commitment is to provide military capacities, not to respect a percentage,” said government source in Madrid.

No question, however, for the United States to accept exceptions. “I think Spain has to pay what everyone has to pay,” Donald Trump said on Friday.

Madrid had made her opposition the day before this drastic increase, believing that she was not justified.

“For Spain. committing to achieving a 5 % target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive,” said Pedro Sanchez in a letter addressed to the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte.

Investing up to 5 % GDP in security would amount to asking each Spanish to pay some 3000 euros each year. it is said in Madrid. “It is incompatible with our vision of the world,” said a government source.

Spain devoted 1.24 % of its GDP to military spending at the end of 2024, according to NATO. However, she undertook to reach 2 % this year, in accordance with a target set in 2014 by a previous NATO summit.