“In a more dangerous world, we must invest more in defense“. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberghas launched an appeal to Member States to increase military spending beyond the current 2% target. A reinforcement that Stoltenberg considers essential at a time when the war has returned to European territory with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, while China adopts an increasingly aggressive policy and the threat of terrorism persists.
The Secretary General’s appeal comes after the publication of the latest data update, which places Spain at the bottom of defense spending in NATO, with just 1.09% of GDP in 2022. That is, just half the minimum required by the Atlantic Alliance immediately. Only Luxembourg registers worse figures (0.62%).
Spain remains in penultimate position despite the fact that the Government of Pedro Sánchez increased military spending by 12.6% last year (well above the NATO average of 2.2%), reaching a total of 14,135 million euros. An increase that generated strong tensions with the coalition partners of Unidas Podemoswho opposed but ended up swallowing.
Military spending in NATO countries in 2022 (in % of GDP)
Our country does meet the second objective set by the Atlantic Alliance, that at least 20% of spending be allocated to military equipment. In the case of Spain, this percentage reaches 26%.
NATO countries already committed a decade ago (after Russia’s annexation of Crimea) to bring defense investment to 2% of GDP by 2024. When there are only 9 months left for the deadlineonly 7 countries have reached the goal: Greece, the United States, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Latvia.
Faster
“Since 2014, allies have increased defense spending and we are moving in the right direction. But we are not moving as fast as the dangerous world we live in demands. While I welcome all the progress that has been made, it is obvious that we have to do more and we have to do it faster“, Stoltenberg claimed during the presentation of NATO’s annual report.
The heads of government of the Atlantic Alliance plan to set a new goal during the summit to be held in Vilnius in July (Lithuania). Stoltenberg has explained that his intention is to maintain the 2% figure, but to turn it no longer into a spending ceiling but into a minimum that must be reached immediately and then try to exceed it.
“In this new and more contested world, we cannot take our security for granted.. It is our security that sustains our prosperity and our way of life,” insisted the NATO Secretary General.
In total, in the last eight years, NATO countries have increased defense spending by $350 billion. The total military spending of the Atlantic Alliance in 2022 exceeded one trillion dollars. Although it only represents 54% of NATO’s GDP, The United States is responsible for 70% of its investment in defense.
the role of china
During the presentation of his report, Stoltenberg has once again asked China not to provide any type of military assistance to Russia. In his opinion, President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow shows that “China and Russia are getting closer and closer on a military leveleconomic and political and economic”.
“We have seen no evidence of China delivering lethal weapons to Russia, but Russia has requested it and it is an issue that is being considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities. China must not provide lethal aid to Russia. That would be supporting an illegal war, prolonging the war, and supporting the illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is something that China should not do,” insisted the NATO secretary general.
Stoltenberg has also declared himself deeply skeptical of China’s peace plan for Ukraine. “China must start by understanding Ukraine’s perspective and talk directly with President Zelensky if he wants to be serious about peace. China has not been able to condemn Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine,” he denounced.
In his view, the Chinese plan includes “positive elements” such as nuclear security, the protection of civilians and the defense of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. At the same time, the ceasefire demanded by Beijing “would only be a way to freeze the war and guarantee that Russia can recover and attack again.”
“It wouldn’t just be a untenable peacebut would allow Russia to keep territory that it has occupied illegally,” Stoltenberg denounced.
