Spain signals opposition to NATO's ambitious 5% defence spending target Joins Italy and Portugal in pushback

Spain is poised to challenge a bold NATO proposal that would commit member states to ramp up their defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2032, a move that could trigger intense debate at the upcoming alliance summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24–25.

According to El País, which cited sources within the Spanish government, Madrid is strongly considering blocking the initiative, which must be approved by consensus. “Several countries may block this agreement, which requires unanimous support. Spain is one of them,” the paper noted, quoting government insiders.

The ambitious plan, reportedly circulated in a letter by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, has already sparked concern in Madrid, where officials believe the proposed target is both premature and excessive.

While the United States has thrown its weight behind the plan, key European allies — including Italy and Portugal — share Spain's reservations.

Under the proposal, overall defence expenditures would reach 5% of GDP across NATO countries, with 3.5% dedicated to direct military spending and another 1.5% earmarked for cybersecurity, infrastructure, and related defence-support areas.

But for Spain, implementing such a measure would come with a steep price. According to El País, the country would need to increase its defence budget by nearly €80 billion annually — an amount that nearly equals half of Spain’s entire current pension budget. In a climate of economic caution and competing domestic priorities, such a dramatic shift in spending is proving hard to justify.

With decisions within NATO made by consensus, Spain’s opposition — coupled with Italy's and Portugal's — could significantly complicate efforts to formalise the new target. As the summit approaches, whether the alliance can bridge this internal divide remains a key question.

By Tamilla Hasanova