US NATO envoy warns Spain of “serious consequences” over defence commitment breach

U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker has warned that Spain could face “serious consequences” if it fails to raise its defense spending to 5% of GDP, as outlined in the alliance’s new agreement.

He made the statement during a broadcast on Fox News, Caliber.Az reports.

“NATO has a mechanism for oversight and accountability. President Trump is absolutely right — he holds all the cards. If Spain or any other ally refuses to meet its commitments, there will be serious consequences,” Whitaker stressed.

According to the final communiqué of the NATO summit held on June 25, member states pledged to invest 5% of their GDP annually in defense by 2035, including spending on security and military modernization.

The warning follows Spain’s exemption from the 5% target, secured by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025, where allies agreed to the new spending goal by 2035, including investments in security and military modernization.

In January this year, President Trump pushed for a 5% GDP target, citing heightened threats from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and potential conflicts in the Middle East, as evidenced by the June 2025 Israel-Iran conflict. The new target, adopted at the June 25, NATO summit, includes 3.5% for “hard defence” (weapons and troops) and 1.5% for broader security measures like cybersecurity and military mobility, with a compliance deadline of 2035.

By Khagan Isayev