LISBON – Spain has pledged to raise its defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) well before the initially projected 2029 deadline, though it has not set a new specific target, Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed on Tuesday.
Currently, Spain allocates just 1.3% of its GDP to defense, the lowest among NATO members. Achieving the 2% benchmark would require an estimated additional €10 billion (US$10.79 billion) annually.
Last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in Warsaw that Spain was expected to reach the alliance’s 2% spending goal by summer. However, a Spanish government source clarified that while Spain is working to get closer to the target within that timeframe, no firm commitment has been made.
“It’s not so much about deadlines, but I believe that well in advance, before 2029, we will meet our obligations … we are working on it in a serious and rigorous manner,” Robles said on the sidelines of an event in Lisbon.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has reassured NATO that Spain remains committed to strengthening Europe’s defense efforts. However, he has also argued that nations geographically distant from Russia should prioritize cybersecurity measures rather than focusing solely on weapons stockpiling.
Rutte has criticized what he described as a “two-tier NATO,” pointing out that eastern-flank countries—more vulnerable to potential Russian aggression—spend significantly more on defense. He emphasized that “the difference between a missile attack on Warsaw or on Madrid is just 10 minutes.”