Spanish PM to stand by defence spending plans at NATO summit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will stand by his government's defence spending plans at the NATO summit in Ankara, arguing that they are sufficient to meet the country's commitments to the alliance.

Among the key issues on the summit agenda will be how to achieve the goal agreed at last year's NATO summit in The Hague for all member states to increase defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product, Caliber.Az reports, citing Spanish media.

Spain is the only NATO member to reject that target, with Sanchez insisting that defence spending of 2.1% of GDP is sufficient to fulfil the country's obligations to the alliance.

Since then, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Spain and threatened consequences over its refusal to comply with the alliance's agreed spending target.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov