Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 5, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleSpain commits to a 2% GDP defence spending target despite pressure from NATO and the US. Defence Minister Robles confirms no veto on NATO's spending decisions.
MADRID (Reuters) -Spain stands by its defence spending target of 2% of GDP, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Thursday, as pressure grows from NATO leadership and the United States for the Mediterranean country to increase it.
"We think that this 2% is enough to meet the responsibilities we have committed to," Robles said.
Spain will not veto a NATO decision to raise the defence spending target during a summit to be held later this month in The Hague, she said.
"What is important is that each country is able to meet the objectives it has set itself," she added.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced in April a plan to increase military spending by 10.5 billion euros ($11.99 billion) this year, bringing forward to this year a goal to meet the 2% of GDP target from its previously self-imposed deadline of 2029.
Despite the new plan Spain, which spent just 1.3% on defence in 2024, the lowest among NATO members, is under pressure to spend even more.
European defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on May 3 Spain ought to raise spending to 3% of GDP.
($1 = 0.8755 euros)
(Reporting by Javi West Larrañaga and Inti Landauro, editing by Aislinn Laing)
Spain aims to maintain a defence spending target of 2% of GDP, as stated by Defence Minister Margarita Robles.
Spain is under pressure from NATO leadership and the United States to increase its defence spending, with suggestions to raise it to 3% of GDP.
In 2024, Spain spent just 1.3% of its GDP on defence, which is the lowest among NATO members.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a plan to increase military spending by 10.5 billion euros this year to meet the 2% GDP target.
Spain will not veto a NATO decision to raise the defence spending target during the upcoming summit in The Hague.
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