Spain secured NATO opt-out from 5% defense spending target.

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Spain has struck a deal with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to be exempt from a commitment to spend 5% of its gross domestic product on defense, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday, June 22. In a televised address, Sánchez argued that such a spending level would be “unnecessary and disproportionate.” Earlier on Sunday, diplomats said NATO’s 32 member states had agreed on a summit statement setting a 5% of GDP target for annual defense and security spending by 2035, despite Spain’s objections. Sanchez had informed NATO chief Mark Rutte of his country’s desire to opt out of a new 5% spending target in a letter sent Thursday, June 19. The letter expressed worries that Spain might disrupt the entire summit. According to Sanchez, they completely understand that other countries want to boost their defense spending, but they will not do that. This statement was made after he noted that Spain can fulfill all its NATO commitments for personnel or equipment by only spending 2.1% of its GDP.  Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Spain spent about 1.28% of its GDP on defense last year, which was the lowest amount in the alliance, according to NATO estimates. In April, Sanchez agreed to speed up efforts to reach NATO’s goal of 2% this year.  NATO has not yet made the compromise summit text public. It will only be official once the leaders of NATO’s 32 member countries approve it at the summit.  However, diplomats mentioned that changing the wording from “we commit” to “allies commit” helped Spain argue that the promise does not apply to every member.  President Trump increases defense spending to 5% for NATO members US President Donald Trump demanded a big increase in NATO’s defense spending target of 5% of gross domestic product.   This was after NATO chief…