Spain expects no repercussions from not meeting Nato's 5% spending target

Straits Times

5 hours ago

Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo added that Madrid would meet all its commitments on its military capabilities despite spending less than 5 per cent of GDP. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MADRID - Spain said on June 25 that it did not expect any repercussions from its decision not to meet a defence spending target of 5 per cent of gross domestic product that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) member states are expected to set at a summit in The Hague.
"Spain will be a responsible ally," Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo told Bloomberg TV in an interview, adding that Madrid would meet all its commitments on its military capabilities despite spending less than 5 per cent of GDP.
"No repercussions should derive from making good on our commitments and from being a reliable Nato ally, covering for the capabilities that we did commit to and that are necessary to defend Nato."
Nato leaders meeting in The Hague on June 25 were expected to endorse the higher defence spending goal of 5 per cent of GDP in response to a demand by US President Donald Trump.
Doing so would also address the security concerns of European countries over Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on June 22 that Madrid would not spend more than 2.1 per cent of its GDP on defence because its commitments towards Nato on its military capabilities did not require more.
Mr Cuerpo also told Spanish radio station RNE that Spain would review its spending when or if the Nato capabilities requirements are revised.
"Spain will certainly be up to the task when these necessary capabilities are updated," he said. REUTERS
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