THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) 鈥 NATO leaders are expected to agree this week that member countries should spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, except the new and much vaunted investment pledge will not apply to all of them.
Spain has with NATO to be excluded from the 5% of GDP , while President said the figure shouldn鈥檛 apply to the United States, only its allies.
In announcing Spain鈥檚 decision Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez said the spending pledge language in NATO鈥檚 final summit communique 鈥 a one-page text of perhaps half a dozen paragraphs 鈥 would no longer refer to 鈥渁ll allies.鈥
It raises questions about what demands could be insisted on from other members of the alliance like Belgium, Canada, France and Italy that also would struggle to hike security spending by billions of dollars.
On Friday, Trump insisted the U.S. has carried its allies for years and now they must step up. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we should, but I think they should,鈥 he said. 鈥淣ATO is going to have to deal with Spain.鈥
Trump also branded Canada 鈥渁 low payer.鈥
NATO鈥檚 new spending goals
The 5% goal is made up of two parts. The allies would agree to hike pure defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, up from the current target of at least 2%, which 22 of the 32 countries have achieved. Money spent to arm Ukraine also would count.
A further 1.5% would include upgrading roads, bridges, ports and airfields so armies can better deploy, establishing measures to counter cyber and hybrid attacks and preparing societies for future conflict.
The second spending basket is easy for most nations, including Spain. Much can be included. But the 3.5% on core spending is a massive challenge.
Last year, Spain spent 1.28% of GDP on its military budget, according to NATO estimates, making it the alliance鈥檚 lowest spender. S谩nchez said Spain would be able to respect its commitments to NATO by spending 2.1% of GDP on defense needs.
Spain also is among Europe鈥檚 smallest suppliers of arms and ammunition to , according to the Kiel Institute, which tracks such support. It鈥檚 estimated to have sent about 800,000 euros ($920,000) worth of military aid since Russia invaded in 2022.
Beyond Spain's economic challenges, S谩nchez has other problems. He relies on small parties to govern and have ensnared his inner circle and family members. He is under growing pressure to call an early election.
Why the spending increase is needed
There are solid reasons for ramping up spending.
The Europeans believe Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine poses an existential threat to them. Moscow has been blamed for a in sabotage, cyberattacks and GPS jamming incidents. European leaders are girding their citizens for the possibility of more.
The alliance鈥檚 plans for defending Europe and North America against a Russian attack require investments of at least 3%, NATO experts have said. All 32 allies have endorsed these. Each country has been assigned 鈥渃apability targets鈥 to play its part.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jos茅 Albares said Monday that 鈥渢he debate must be not a raw percentage but around capabilities.鈥 He said Spain 鈥渃an reach the capabilities that have been fixed by the organization with 2.1%.鈥
Countries much closer to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine all have agreed to reach the target, as well as nearby Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, which is hosting the starting Tuesday.
The Netherlands estimates NATO鈥檚 defense plans would force it to dedicate at least 3.5% to core defense spending. That means finding an additional 16 billion to 19 billion euros ($18 billion to $22 billion).
Setting a deadline
It鈥檚 not enough to agree to spend more money. Many allies haven鈥檛 yet hit an earlier 2% target that they agreed in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine鈥檚 Crimean Peninsula. So an incentive is required.
The date of 2032 has been floated as a deadline. That is far shorter than previous NATO targets, but military planners estimate Russian forces could be capable of launching an attack on an ally within five to 10 years.
The U.S. insists it cannot be an open-ended pledge and a decade is too long. Still, Italy says it wants 10 years to hit the 5% target.
The possibility of stretching that period to 2035 also has been on the table for debate among NATO envoys. An official review of progress could also be conducted in 2029, NATO diplomats have said.
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Suman Naishadham in Madrid contributed to this report.
