MADRID--Spain has asked to opt out of NATO's plan to increase members' defence spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, a move that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the target.
In a letter sent to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday and seen by Reuters, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application.
He said it was not Spain's intention to obstruct the outcome of next week's NATO summit. But any agreement to raise defence spending - a response to a request by U.S. President Donald Trump - would require unanimous approval by the 32 member states.
"Committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU's ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem," Sanchez wrote in the letter.
"It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign Ally, we choose not to," he added.
At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2%.
Rutte has proposed that member states agree to boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% to broader security-related spending. Leaders across NATO say its current spending goal is no longer sufficient, with Russia posing a greater threat since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Asked for comment on Spain's request, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization official said: "Discussions among Allies on a new defence investment plan are ongoing."
The U.S., which has been Kyiv's primary military backer since Russia's invasion, spent an estimated 3.38% of GDP on defence in 2024, the third-most among NATO nations, according to the alliance.Trump has said NATO members are not spending their fair share on defence and has threatened not to come to the aid of those falling short.
