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NATO: Rutte versus Sanchez

Posted by Europe correspondent on

The Hague. 23.06.2025 “…We meet at a truly historic moment, with significant and growing challenges to our security. As the world becomes more dangerous, Allied leaders will take bold decisions to strengthen our collective defence, making NATO a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal Alliance” said the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, addressing journalists ahead of The Hague Summit.

“This will include a major new defence investment plan, raising the benchmark for defence investment to 5% of GDP. A concerted effort to ramp up defence industry across the Alliance, bringing not only greater security but also more jobs. And a continued focus on support for Ukraine, alongside the pursuit of a just and lasting end to Russia’s war of aggression”.

“All of this is essential to keeping our 1 billion citizens safe”.

“Let me now first say a word on Iran. When it comes to NATO’s stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, Allies have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon. Allies have repeatedly urged Iran to meet its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty”.

“On defence investment. In 2014, Allies agreed to a benchmark of investing 2% of GDP in defence. It is very good news that all Allies will now meet that target this year. We started 2025 with several Allies – seven, eight Allies – not meeting the mark. So we have made crucial progress in the last five, six months.

“But our security environment has changed. And not for the better. The threats we face today demand that we do far, far more to ensure we can effectively deter and defend.

“NATO has detailed defence plans in place. We know how to tackle the dangers that confront us. And we are committed to defending every inch of Allied territory, should any potential adversary make the mistake of attacking any Ally.

“Based on those plans, Allies have agreed an ambitious new set of capability targets – the specific, practical requirements that ensures that we can implement our defence plans.

“Having done this high-stakes homework, it is now clear what kind of investment it will take to effectively deliver what we need. And it is critical that each Ally carries their fair share of the burden.

“The defence investment plan that Allies will agree in The Hague introduces a new baseline: 5% of GDP to be invested in defence. This is a quantum leap that is ambitious, historic, and fundamental to securing our future”.

However, not everyone agrees with Rutte’s impressive, and massive investment plans.
Spanish government insists it got an opt-out from NATO’s new goal of spending five percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Ahead of the Summit the allies agreed on a new five percent of GDP goal by 2035 — with 3.5 percent going on “hard defense” such as weapons and troops, and an further 1.5 percent on defense-related investments such as cybersecurity and military mobility. The agreed frame offers to Madrid less spending as long as it meets the updated capability targets approved by Alliance defense minister while approaching the Summit.

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On Sunday, 22 June, Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explained that his government would need to spend 2.1 percent of GDP to acquire and maintain all the relevant personnel, equipment, and infrastructures requested by the Alliance to confront these threats with our capabilities.

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He also issued the letter from the Secretary General, explaining the flexibility of each sovereign country in pursuing the common goal.

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“Spain thinks they can achieve those targets with 2.1 percent spending. NATO is absolutely convinced that Spain will have to spend 3.5 percent to get there,” Rutte said during the press-conference he offered ahead of the Summit in The Hague.

“NATO has no opt-out and NATO doesn’t know side deals,” Rutte ensured.

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“NATO exposes Sánchez again: “There will be no exception clauses.”
It is lies and betrayal made political…” wrote Dolores Montserrat, Secretary General of the European People’s party (@EPP).
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