Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday that Spain will achieve NATO’s defence spending benchmark this year, responding to increasing calls for the country – Europe’s fourth-largest economy and one of NATO’s lowest spenders – to increase its military investment.
Sánchez revealed that the government plans to boost defence funding by €10.5 billion, reaching NATO’s goal of spending 2% of GDP. He said the additional funds will go toward areas such as telecommunications, cybersecurity, military hardware procurement, as well as improvements in personnel salaries and recruitment.
He stressed, as previously promised, that the hike in defence spending would not come at the cost of increased debt, budget deficits, or reductions in social programmes. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez vows to boost Spain’s defence without affecting welfare spend.
Leading a minority coalition government that includes hard-left partners who traditionally oppose military spending, Sánchez also said that the increase would not need parliamentary approval. ALSO READ: Spain’s promise to EU allies to spend more on defence faces resistance at home.
Last year, Spain ranked lowest among NATO countries in defence expenditure as a percentage of GDP. Although it had previously pledged to meet the 2% threshold by 2029, mounting pressure – especially from across the Atlantic – has prompted acceleration. ALSO READ: EU leaders commit to strengthening military power after Trump signals that Europe must defend itself.
US President Donald Trump has been vocal in criticising European NATO members for insufficient defence funding, even urging the alliance to aim for defence spending levels as high as 5% of GDP. ALSO READ: Trump mistakes Spain for a ‘BRICS’ nation and threatens 100% tariffs.
In light of what he described as a ‘changing era’, Sánchez said that Spain must ‘take control of our own destiny’ and play a meaningful role in strengthening Europe’s defence posture.
‘If you asked me years go about my government’s investment priorities in security and defence, it’s obvious my response would have been different,’ the Spanish prime minister said. ‘That’s not because our values have changed … it’s because the world has.’
He said that the defence initiative – termed the ‘Industrial & Technology Plan for Security & Defence’ – approved by his cabinet and now heading to Brussels, is built around five key pillars.
The first focuses on improving conditions for military personnel, upgrading equipment, and enhancing overall readiness – representing over one-third of the proposed spending.
The second pillar aims to establish a ‘digital shield’ to guard against cyber threats and foreign digital aggression. The third element involves domestic production and acquisition of new ‘defence and deterrence’ systems.
The fourth part of the plan will develop the military’s ‘dual-use’ capabilities, preparing armed forces to assist in natural disasters and emergencies like wildfires, rescue operations or floods – especially relevant amid the growing climate crisis.
Finally, the fifth component will support the roughly 3,000 Spanish troops deployed overseas in areas including Lebanon, Somalia and the Indian Ocean.
‘We’re not doing this to attack anyone,’ Sánchez said. ‘Spain is a pacifist country that believes in diplomacy, but we will do this to deter those who might consider attacking us or attacking Europe.’
He warned of the threat posed by Russia’s resurgence, referring to it as ‘new imperialism’ that jeopardises the entire continent – from the Nordics and Eastern Europe to countries geographically further from Moscow’s reach, like Spain. ALSO READ: Western leaders visit Ukraine to show their support on war’s 3rd anniversary.
‘Ukraine resists, Europe responds, and Spain fulfills its commitments,’ he said, stressing that this perspective is widely shared across Europe as it faces a historic shift.
‘Spain, as the economic power it is, will not stay out of this process,’ Sánchez added.
ALSO READ: ‘EU faces clear & present danger’, as it unveils €800 billion plan to ‘ReArm Europe’.
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Aprobamos hoy el Plan Industrial y Tecnológico para la Seguridad y la Defensa.
España cumplirá con el 2% del PIB de su presupuesto en Seguridad y Defensa en 2025.
Un esfuerzo importante que llevaremos a cabo sin subir impuestos ni tocar la inversión en el Estado del bienestar. pic.twitter.com/gVHmMYM9xQ
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 22, 2025
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