Reference News Network June 24 report, according to AFP June 22 report, NATO countries reached an agreement on June 22 to significantly increase security spending, although Spain claimed to have been exempted from strictly implementing the agreement.

Facing the threat from Russia and pressure from US President Trump, NATO member states plan to announce an agreement on June 24 and 25 in The Hague, committing to allocate at least 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) for their own security.

Spain has clearly opposed this previously, but several NATO diplomats said on June 22 that after tense negotiations, a compromise was reached over the weekend, retaining the 5% target without any exemptions.

However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's statement contradicted this, casting doubt on the potential achievements of the Hague summit. He stated: "Spain has just reached an agreement with NATO... which will allow us to fulfill our commitments to NATO... without increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP."

The EU stated there is no such thing as an exemption. Several diplomats said that Spain only managed to extend the deadline for achieving the 5% target from 2032 to 2035.

The compromise reached on June 22 should clear the way for NATO to reach an agreement in The Hague and is seen as a diplomatic victory for Trump.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte split Trump's 5% requirement into two parts: 3.5% strictly military spending and 1.5% broader security spending (such as cybersecurity or military mobility capabilities). The latter type of spending is easier to achieve, as countries have already planned or considered increasing related expenditures. NATO emphasized that the 3.5% is essential for NATO to enhance military capabilities against the Russian threat.

However, the Spanish government believes that 2.1% of GDP is sufficient to achieve its goal of enhancing military capabilities. They stated: "Our commitment is to enhance military capabilities, not to comply with a certain percentage."

Nevertheless, the United States would not accept any exceptions. Trump said on June 20: "I think Spain must pay the same fees that everyone else has to pay."

Previously, Madrid had already expressed opposition to a significant increase in military spending, calling it unreasonable. In a letter to Mark Rutte, Pedro Sanchez said: "For Spain, committing to achieve the 5% target is not only unreasonable but also counterproductive."

Madrid explained that allocating 5% of GDP to military spending would require each Spaniard to pay about 3,000 euros annually. A Spanish government official said: "This is incompatible with our worldview." (Translated by Wang Zhongju)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519381519421407778/

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