NATO leaders expected to hike defence spending, but it won’t apply to all – National

The head of NATO The military alliance warned on Monday that no country could have an opt-out of a new massive hike in defense spending, and that the progress they make to reach the new target will be examined in four years.

At a summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, NATO leaders should approve the objective of spending five percent of their gross domestic product on their safety, to be able to carry out the alliance’s plans to defend themselves against external attacks.

“NATO has no deactivation and NATO does no team offer,” NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, told journalists in The Hague. “It is essential that everyone carries their just part of the burden.”

However, Spain said that He reached an agreement NATO to be excluded from the objective of five percent, while President Donald Trump said that the figure should not apply to the United States, only its allies.

By announcing the decision of Spain on Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the spending language in the last press release from the NATO summit – a text of a page of half a dozen paragraphs – would no longer refer to “all allies”.

He raises questions about the requests that may be insisted on other members of the Alliance such as Belgium, Canada, France and Italy, which would also have trouble making security expenditure height by billions of dollars. Rutte conceded that for some, reaching five percent “will always be a long way to go”.

Trump on Friday insisted that the United States wore its allies for years and now they have to intensify. “I don’t think we should, but I think they should,” he said. “NATO will have to face Spain.”

Trump also marked Canada “a baster”.

The objective of five percent is made up of two parts. The Allies would agree to increase pure defense expenses at 3.5% of GDP, against the current objective of at least two percent, which 22 of the 32 countries have reached. The money spent to arm Ukraine would also count.

Another more than 1.5 percent would include the modernization of roads, bridges, ports and aerodromes so that armies can better deploy, establishing measures to counter cyber and hybrid attacks and the preparation of companies for future conflicts.

The second basket of expenses is easy for most nations, including Spain. Many can be included. But the 3.5% on basic expenses are a massive challenge.

Last year, Spain spent 1.28% of GDP on its military budget, according to NATO estimates, which makes it the lowest screening of the alliance. Sánchez said Spain would be able to respect its commitments to NATO by spending 2.1% of GDP on defense needs.

Spain is also one of the smallest providers of European weapons and ammunition to UkraineAccording to the Kiel Institute, which follows such support. It is estimated that he sent around 800,000 euros (US $ 920,000) for military aid since Russia invaded in 2022.

Beyond the economic challenges of Spain, Sánchez has other problems. It relies on small parts to govern and Corruption scandals have trapped his inner circle and family members. He underwent increasing pressure to call a first election.

Trend now

• Sixteen billion passwords may have been stolen. Here’s how to protect yourself

• What is the Hormuz Strait and why is it so important?

There are solid reasons for accelerating expenses.

Europeans believe that Russia war against Ukraine is an existential threat to them. Moscow was blamed for a major increase in sabotage, cyber attacks and GPS jamming incidents. European leaders like their citizens for the possibility.

The plans of the Alliance to defend Europe and North America against a Russian attack require investments of at least three percent, said NATO experts. The 32 allies approved them. Each country has received “capacity targets” to play its role.

The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Albares, said on Monday that “the debate should not be a gross percentage but around the capacities”. He said that Spain “can reach the capacity that has been set by the organization with 2.1%”.

Countries much closer to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine have all agreed to reach the target, as well as neighboring Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, which welcomed the two-day summit from Tuesday.

The Netherlands believe that NATO’s defense plans would force him to devote at least 3.5% to basic defense expenses. This means finding an additional 16 to 19 billion euros (18 billion to $ 22 billion).

It is not enough to accept to spend more money. Many allies have not yet reached a previous two percent objective that they agreed in 2014 after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine. The incitement of a deadline is therefore necessary.

The United States insists that it cannot be an open commitment and a decade is too long. However, Italy says it wants 10 years to reach the target of five percent.

The date of 2032 was initially floated, but 2035 seems to be the year which will be settled. An official examination of progress should be carried out in early 2029, just after the elections should take place in the United States.

“NATO is absolutely convinced that Spain will have to spend 3.5%,” said Rutte. “Each country will now regularly report what it does in terms of expenses and reach targets. So we will see. And anyway, there will be an exam in 29 ”.

–Suman Ishadham contributed to the report.

& Copy 2025 the Canadian press