Spain will allocate an additional 2.08 billion euros for defense this year, the government there announced yesterday, after pressure from allies to increase spending in that area.
Out of the 32 NATO members, Spain allocates the least for defense – only 1.3 percent of GDP.
In order to reach the Alliance’s target of two percent, it would need to allocate an additional 10 billion euros annually.
Spain has committed to reaching that by 2029, although Madrid recently promised it would reach the goal much earlier, without specifying a new time frame.
“The government is willing to achieve (the two percent goal) as soon as possible,” said government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria to journalists after the government meeting.
She said that the additional funds will mostly be used for “modernization, maintenance, and improvement of personnel, infrastructure, and facilities” through existing contracts.
