Spain to boost defence spending by over $12 billion to meet NATO target

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on April 22 that Spain will increase its defence budget by €10.5 billion ($12.1 billion) in 2025, bringing its military expenditures in line with NATO’s target of 2% of GDP.

This marks a significant shift for Spain, which has consistently fallen short of the NATO target for years and currently spends less on defence than any other NATO member, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Thus, Sánchez emphasised the need for Spain to take charge of its future, stating, "We need to take the reins of our destiny and Spain will not be left out of that process, but at the centre alongside others. For that, it’s essential to abide by investment goals."

In 2024, Spain's defence expenditure was 1.4% of GDP. With the increase, total defence spending for 2025 is expected to exceed €23 billion, Sánchez revealed. Of this, around 35% will be allocated to salaries and training, 31% to telecommunications and security infrastructure, and 19% to defence equipment.

Historically, Spain has maintained an ambivalent stance on military spending. The country's decision to join NATO in the mid-1980s under a Socialist government was a landmark political shift, requiring significant ideological realignment. Defence budgets were drastically reduced during the 2008-2012 economic crisis, a trend that continued for years.

While Sánchez has been vocal in his support for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia, he has refrained from committing Spanish troops to the conflict. Instead, he has highlighted Spain's commitment to peace, citing the nation's longstanding involvement in United Nations-backed peacekeeping missions worldwide.

By Aghakazim Guliyev