Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has rejected NATO's proposal to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP as incompatible with Spain's domestic needs.

In a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain will not accept an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP, proposing a more flexible formula. Sánchez argues that allocating these funds would affect the financing of other essential spending and that each government has the right to decide on the necessary sacrifices. Rutte, on the other hand, stressed the importance of rapidly increasing military spending to respond to current threats.