Spain has requested to opt out of NATO's proposed plan to increase member states' defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP), potentially complicating next week’s alliance summit, where the commitment is expected to be finalized.
In a letter to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday, seen by Reuters, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for a "more flexible formula" that would either make the 5% target optional or exempt Spain from the obligation entirely.
While Sanchez emphasized that Spain did not intend to obstruct the summit's outcomes, NATO decisions require unanimous agreement among its 32 member states. The proposed increase in defense spending, advocated by U.S. President Donald Trump, would mark a significant shift in alliance policy.
"Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem," Sanchez wrote.
"It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added.
