Madrid (Spain), July 6 (LaPresse) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will stand firm at the NATO summit in Ankara on his opposition to defence spending amounting to 5% of GDP. Madrid remains convinced it can meet the capability targets set by the Atlantic Alliance with lower spending, despite differences with the White House and the scepticism expressed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Sources at the Moncloa explain that allocating 5% of GDP to defence would entail tax increases and cuts to welfare. They point out that in other countries already following this path, the effects are already visible. Madrid remains convinced that confronting Russia is one of the main challenges, but believes that to succeed it is necessary to reconcile military development with economic growth, social development and climate objectives, and that achieving this requires a balance between investment in defence and welfare. During the summit, the Socialist leader will also defend the need for Europe to become more autonomous and less dependent on other countries, including the United States, not only through a distribution of capabilities but also through investments directed towards European industry. Europe must invest more in itself and not in foreign industries, Moncloa sources explain, also stressing the need for the Old Continent to equip itself with a European army in order to have its own deterrence capability.
NATO: Sánchez will defend at the summit his opposition to 5% of GDP for defence
Madrid (Spain), July 6 (LaPresse) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will stand firm at the NATO summit in Ankara on his opposition to defence spending amounting to 5% of GDP. Madrid remains convinced it can meet the capability targets set by the Atlantic Alliance with lower spending, despite differences with the White House and the scepticism expressed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Sources at the Moncloa explain that allocating 5% of GDP to defence would entail tax increases and cuts to welfare. They point out that in other countries already following this path, the effects are already visible. Madrid remains convinced that confronting Russia is one of the main challenges, but believes that to succeed it is necessary to reconcile military development with economic growth, social development and climate objectives, and that achieving this requires a balance between investment in defence and welfare. During the summit, the Socialist leader will also defend the need for Europe to become more autonomous and less dependent on other countries, including the United States, not only through a distribution of capabilities but also through investments directed towards European industry. Europe must invest more in itself and not in foreign industries, Moncloa sources explain, also stressing the need for the Old Continent to equip itself with a European army in order to have its own deterrence capability.
