Pain has launched a €10.5 billion investment plan to ensure it meets its long-delayed NATO pledge of spending 2% of its GDP on defense this year, stating that it has become clear that “only Europe will know how to protect Europe” moving forward.
The country, which trails well behind other Western nations in defense spending at about 1.3% of GDP, is one of the Nato members under pressure from the Trump administration to increase spending, and had previously committed to meeting the 2% target by 2029.
However, on Tuesday morning, Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, revealed a €10.5 billion (£9 billion) “industrial and technological plan for security and defence” that will allow Spain to reach its 2% promise by 2025.
Sánchez stated that the proposal, which has been agreed by his cabinet and will now be submitted to the EU and NATO, is necessary to handle current and future defence problems. Its primary focus will be on telecommunications, cybersecurity, and purchasing military equipment.
“The adversaries of Europe are employing more than just missiles – as evidenced by the situation in Ukraine over the past three years,” he stated. “Unmanned drones and paramilitary forces are being employed to disrupt supply chains, sever gas lines, and damage underwater cables.” Social networks are being utilized to disseminate disinformation, create divisions among people, and foster discontent towards democratic institutions. They are employing AI cyber-attacks and quantum computers to undermine our telecommunications, disrupt our supply networks, and jeopardize our public services, all with the aim of threatening our way of life.
The prime minister emphasized that his administration is now fulfilling the 2% commitment made by its conservative predecessor in 2014, stating that the new plan will significantly enhance European security in an unprecedented timeframe.
“In a world filled with uncertainty, Europe stands as a beacon of hope and a pillar of certainty – and it is essential to safeguard that certainty by enhancing our security and defense systems. Given the current circumstances, it is clear that only Europe possesses the knowledge to protect itself,” he added. “Spain will play a role in safeguarding Europe.”
Sánchez stated that Vladimir Putin’s “neo-imperialism” poses a threat to European security, regardless of the distance any EU member state may have from the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine.
“The security and stability of Ukraine, as well as eastern Europe and the Baltic and Nordic countries, directly correlates to the security and safety of Spain,” he stated. “The residents of those nations understand that Putin is resolute – and that his statements are supported by actions – which is why they seek refuge in Europe.” They seek something significant, and that is unity. Spain will not overlook that demand. Ukraine stands firm, Europe takes action, and Spain meets its commitments.
Sánchez reiterated his guarantees that the extra spending would not result in higher taxes, cuts to the welfare state budget, or increases in the deficit. The plan has encountered criticism from coalition partners within the leftwing Sumar platform, who have characterized the proposals as “incoherent” and “absolutely exorbitant.”
In January, Donald Trump intensified his demands on NATO, asserting that the United States had borne the global defense responsibility for an extended period and stating that he would request all NATO members to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP.
The NATO secretary-general, Mark Rutte, has called on member states to view the threats from Washington as a motivation to independently increase their defense contributions. Last month, Rutte noted that the pressure was already yielding results in countries like Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Italy.
“I am reaching out to request that you deliver the 2% by the summer, allowing us to collectively exceed that figure significantly. We need to invest much more than 2%. However, if you choose not to heed my call, you may find yourself speaking with a rather, erm, patient individual from Washington,” he stated.
