With the recent attack of the United States to Iran’s main nuclear centrals, increasing the escalation of the conflict that the Iranians already maintained with Israel, the doubts about what role Spain plays within NATO have shot themselves.
Belong to this alliance makes all countries subject to Comply with article 5 of the Treatywhich establishes the obligation to defend any allied country that has been attacked. In the case of the United States, NATO member, the regulations do not apply, since it was the one who attacked Iran first.
Among the Spain’s obligations with NATO is to comply with defense spending. Recently, the statements of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, were publicly made, where he claimed that the country will not allocate more than 2.1% of GDP in this matter despite the demands of the Alliance. According to Sánchez, reaching 5% of GDP stipulated by NATO would be “disproportionate” and “would involve an extra expense of 350,000 million euros.”
How much each allied country spends in defense
In 10 years, Spain has only increased defense spending by 0.36%by 0.92% of GDP in 2014 to 1.28% from 2024, according to an article published in ‘The World Order’.
As stated in the same publication, Spain It is the country that allocates this matter; followed by Slovenia (1.29%), Luxembourg (1.29%) and Belgium (1.3%).
Thus, taking into account the above, defense spending (2024) by countries is:
- Poland: 4.12%
- Estonia: 3.43%
- USA: 3.38%
- Latvia: 3.15%
- Greece: 3.08%
- Lithuania: 2.85%
- Finland: 2.41%
- Denmark: 2.37%
- United Kingdom: 2.33%
- Romania: 2.25%
- Macedonia del Norte: 2.22%
- Norway: 2.2%
- Bulgaria: 2.18%
- Sweden: 2.14%
- Germany: 2.12%
- Hungary: 2.11%
- Czech: 2.1%
- Türkiye: 2.09%
- France: 2.06%
- Netherlands: 2.05%
- Albania: 2.03%
- Montenegro: 2.02%
- Slovakia: 2%
- Croatia: 1.81%
- Portugal: 1.55%
- Italy: 1.49%
- Canada: 1.37%
- Belgium: 1.3%
- Luxembourg: 1.29%
- Slovenia: 1.29%
- Spain: 1.28%
