Spain continues to be among the NATO countries that spend the least on Defense: 2%, which is the minimum required by the Alliance, a figure also shared by Belgium, Albania, Canada, and Portugal. The annual report for 2025 published by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization this Thursday confirms this, demonstrating that despite the significant increase in spending decreed by the Government last year, the Spanish figure is still very limited.
Faced with strong pressure, the government of Pedro Sánchez agreed to increase spending to 2%. This figure was endorsed by NATO, and Spain states that with this data, it will be able to meet all its obligations as a member of the Alliance. It will not reach the 5% spending agreed upon at the La Haya summit by combining capabilities spending (3.5%) and defense-related investments (1.5%).
However, NATO's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has stated on numerous occasions that it will be shown that this is not enough, that Spain cannot comply with just 2% and the country will have to invest more. Not now, but in the medium term. Even this year.
In absolute terms, Spain's spending increased to 33.5 billion in 2025 from 22.7 billion the previous year. As mentioned, a very substantial increase that the Government always embraces to justify its significant contribution to NATO. While the total amount is relevant, NATO does not use that metric; it always assesses contributions in relative terms, showing how much a country contributes relative to the size of its economy.
The NATO document also shows that Poland is the highest spender, exceeding 4%, while Lithuania reaches that four-point GDP mark, and Latvia and Estonia are at 3.7% and 3.4%, respectively. Countries closer to Russia continue to lead and increase their military investment. The United States accumulates a spending of 3.19%.
Germany, which has initiated an ambitious military investment program, ended 2025 at 2.39%, while France reached 2.05% and Italy barely exceeded two points of investment with 2.01%. The gap between Spain and the major Eurozone countries is not significant, even ridiculous in the case of Italy. However, all these countries have indicated their willingness to invest more.
The annual report is published amidst escalating attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump on allies. Not for Defense spending, as he has often done against Spain, but for NATO's inaction in the Iran conflict. This is entirely unrelated to NATO, but the magnate wants the Alliance to get involved.
"NATO countries have done absolutely nothing to help in Iran, a nation in chaos that is now militarily destroyed. The United States doesn't need anything from NATO, but 'never forget' this very important moment!" he stated on his social network Truth Social.