Spain Opts Out as NATO Agrees to Hike Defence Spending Goal

Madrid's Stance Risks Setting Up Clash With Trump at Bloc's Summit in The Hague

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BRUSSELS/MADRID - NATO members have agreed to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), as demanded by US President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to comply just days before a summit in The Hague meant to be a show of unity.

NATO officials had been anxious to find consensus on a summit statement on a new spending commitment ahead of the June 25 gathering. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared on June 19 that he would not commit to the 5 per cent target.

NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed to reach the target by boosting NATO's core defence spending goal from 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GDP and spending an extra 1.5 per cent on related items such as cyber security and adapting roads and bridges for military vehicles. After diplomats agreed on a compromise text on June 22, Mr Sanchez swiftly proclaimed Spain would not have to meet the 5 per cent target as it would only have to spend 2.1 per cent of GDP to meet NATO's core military requirements.