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4h ago

NATO Allies Poised to Approve 5% GDP Defence Target Despite UK and Spain Objections

Negotiations hinge on UK proposals for a 2035 deadline review, Spanish objections over economic constraints, US demands for higher core military outlays.

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US soldiers install a floating element used to assemble a transportation barge across the Danube river on June 13, 2025
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Overview

  • Summit participants are expected to agree to raise total defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2032, with 3.5% allocated to core military capabilities and 1.5% to broader security measures like cybersecurity and infrastructure.
  • The UK is pushing to extend the implementation deadline to 2035 and secure a formal review in 2029, citing fiscal pressures and the need for a phased funding plan.
  • Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles has refused to endorse a fixed GDP percentage, arguing that Madrid will focus on meeting capability objectives rather than arbitrary spending targets and pointing to high debt levels and coalition dynamics.
  • White House officials and NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker have insisted on a uniform 5% commitment for hard defence expenditure as essential to deter Russian aggression and bolster alliance cohesion.
  • During a US Senate hearing, experts including Alina Polyakova and Peter Rough urged raising the core military spending requirement above 3.5% and accelerating the timeline to achieve commitments within five years.