Spain rejects NATO's anticipated defense spending increase as 'unreasonable'

[AZProgressive]

MADRID (AP) — Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to spend 5% of GDP on defense needs that’s due to be announced next week, calling it “unreasonable.”

In a letter sent Thursday to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that Spain “cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP” at next week’s NATO summit in The Hague.

Most U.S. allies at NATO are on track to endorse U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense and military needs. In early June, Sweden and the Netherlands said that they aim to meet the new target.

(snip)

“For Spain, committing to a 5% target would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive, as it would move Spain away from optimal spending and it would hinder the EU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defense ecosystem,” Sánchez wrote in the letter seen by The Associated Press.

https://apnews.com/article/spain-nato-spending-increase-f9d105eb41d708acc78356599032b95a

[SSJVegeta]

1. It would behoove them to do so

[Beastly Boy]

2. Fuck Spain

They didn't find it unreasonable when hundreds of Ukrainians fought with them against fascism and died for them.

[AZProgressive]

3. US used to provide most of the assistance for NATO

This is Trump that is backing away from NATO commitments and requiring the European nations to increase military defense spending and I personally can't believe that other European nations are following through on Trump's demand to increase military spending to an arbitrary number which is half of a round number.

I will admit Spain is one of the European countries I'm least familiar with when it comes to their history or politics but I don't blame them for not wanting to comply with Trump's demand especially if it affects other commitments as far as spending.

[Beastly Boy]

4. Fuck Trump and his demands. This is not what drives the increase in NATO spending.

Trump also cut aid to Ukraine. NATO can sit on its hands or do something about it to prevent Ukraine from falling and Putin threatening the rest of Europe. As a European nation that counts on NATO to defend it, it is ridiculous of Spain to not pay their fair share.