Spain has publicly rejected NATO’s latest proposal for member states to raise defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP), calling the benchmark “unreasonable” and out of touch with national priorities.

Speaking ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez strongly criticized the new target, warning that it would divert critical resources from essential social services such as healthcare, education, and climate policy.

“Spain will not mortgage its future by inflating military budgets at the cost of its people’s welfare,” Sánchez said during a press briefing in Madrid on Saturday. “We fully support European security and NATO, but not at the expense of our social contract.”

The Proposal: 5% of GDP on Defense

NATO’s proposal, pushed primarily by the United States and several Eastern European allies, aims to boost collective deterrence amid rising global tensions particularly the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and increasing military assertiveness from China.

• Current NATO guideline: 2% of GDP (adopted in 2014)

• Proposed adjustment: 5% of GDP by 2030

• Spain’s current defense spending: ~1.3% of GDP

Spain’s Opposition: “Security Must Include Society”

Sánchez argued that such a sharp increase in defense spending would be economically unsustainable for Spain and would weaken the country’s ability to maintain its robust public welfare model.

“True national security is not just tanks and jets. It’s hospitals, schools, and green energy,” Sánchez said. “A 5% target is misguided and disconnected from the realities many European countries face.”

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles also echoed the prime minister’s stance, calling the proposal “strategic overreach” and a threat to EU cohesion.

Mixed Reactions from NATO Members

Spain’s rejection of the 5% proposal highlights growing divisions within NATO over burden-sharing:

• Germany and Italy have expressed reservations, citing budgetary limitations.

• Poland, Estonia, and the U.S. back the plan, citing rising threats from Russia and global authoritarianism.

• France is reportedly open to “a flexible version” of the target, tied to national capabilities.

The proposal will be formally debated at the NATO Summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24–25.

The Bigger Picture: Defense vs. Domestic Needs

As war and instability test global alliances, European leaders are under increasing pressure to balance security obligations with domestic priorities, including post-COVID recovery, climate goals, and inflation relief.

“You can’t build a fortress while the foundation crumbles,” said political analyst Ana Beltrán of the Madrid Policy Institute. “Voters are watching not just what you protect, but what you neglect.”

Looking Ahead

• June 24–25: NATO Summit in The Hague will address the proposal.

• EU Coordination: Spain is expected to lobby other EU nations to push for a revised or scaled-down spending model.

• Public Opinion: Polls in Spain show majority opposition to higher defense budgets if it means cuts to public services.