Author: Unknown
Published on: 23/01/2025 | 10:18:00
AI Summary:
Spain ranked last in the 32-nation military alliance last year for the share of its GDP. That’s after NATO members pledged to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. Since 2018, Spain has increased its defense spending by about 50% from 8.5 billion euros ($8.9 billion) to 12.8 billion euros in 2023. Spain joined NATO in 1982, a year after the young, isolated democracy survived a coup attempt by its armed forces and seven years after the end of the 40-year military dictatorship led by Gen. Francisco Franco. A narrow majority of Spaniards voted to stay in the alliance, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the country that is now Europe’s fourth-largest by population joined NATO’s military structure. In that sense, “we are a very young member of NATO,” says Carlot Spain’s leaders point out that while they have yet to meet NATO’s budget floor, it’s unfair to only consider the country’s NATO contributions as a percentage of GDP to measure its commitments to Europe and its own security. Spain’s armed forces are deployed in 16 overseas missions, according to the defense ministry. Analysts point to the fact that Spain’s government routinely spends more on defense than what is budgeted. “The reality is, the whole thing is not very transparent,” Guardans says.
Original: 978 words
Summary: 222 words
Percent reduction: 77.30%