Spain will increase its defense costs this year to reach 2% of NATO GDP – much earlier than the 2029 deadline it had set, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today.

Among the 32 Member States of the North Atlantic Alliance, Spain has its lowest defense spending as a percentage of its GDP, just 1.3% in 2024. European countries are under pressure to increase their military spending amid the uncertainty of the second term of US government.

Sanchez stressed that the NATO target of 2% will be achieved through additional costs of 10.47 billion euros, with an emphasis on increasing the size of the army, telecommunications, cyber security and the supply of military equipment.

“This plan will help us achieve (the goal) in a record time,” the Spanish prime minister said, saying that “Spain will contribute to the defense of Europe.”

He said he was sure that the plan would receive the support from most Members, adding, however, that the plan of the minority government, led by the Socialists, does not require parliamentary approval, as there is mainly existing resources and uses saving or saving fiscal resources.

Sanchez argued that southern European countries have different challenges than those facing the NATO’s eastern wing allies and must focus on border controls, the fight against terrorism and cyberattacks, which, he said, should be counted as defensive costs.

About 19% of the additional expenditure plan will go to the modernization of Spain’s defense capabilities through the construction and supply of military equipment, Sanchez said, stressing that his government responds to the increase in geopolitical tensions.

“If you were asking me years ago about my government’s investment priorities for security and defense, my answer would obviously be different from the one I just described. But this is not because our values ​​and goals have changed, but because people have changed. “