Rutte said the plan to increase defense spending was ambitious and historic. He described the increase in defense spending to five percent of GDP as a"quantum leap" for the alliance, which he said was necessary in light of the changing security situation. It would also create more jobs, he said.
He explained that the details of the agreement are secret, but that the allied forces primarily need strengthened air defenses, thousands of tanks and combat vehicles, and millions of pieces of artillery ammunition.
"Our goal is to ensure that we have everything we need to deter and defend against any threat," he said, describing Russia as the main threat, which is carrying out"deadly terror" in Ukraine on a daily basis. In light of this, he said, the NATO summit would also represent a strong sign of support for Ukraine.
Controversies regarding Spain
"NATO has no exceptions and knows no side agreements," he said of Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday that it would not have to make the increase. He backed up his words with a post on the X network, where he pasted a letter written by Rutte. In it, he reiterated Spain's position that it can achieve the new capability goals with spending below five percent. An agreement at the upcoming NATO summit will give Spain the flexibility to determine its own sovereign path to reach the capability goal, he added in the letter dated yesterday.
Toma, Alberto.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) June 22, 2025
Que alguien te la traduzca. A ver si eso aclara tus dudas.
According to Sanchez, Spain will need to increase spending to 2.1 percent of GDP to acquire and maintain all the personnel, equipment and infrastructure needed to face threats and challenges.
NATO leaders will be meeting in The Hague on Tuesday and Wednesday to endorse a joint statement, which was agreed on Sunday, according to foreign news agencies. According to the agreement, members are to increase annual budget spending on defense and security to five percent of GDP by 2035, with 3.5 percent of GDP earmarked for direct defense investments and 1.5 percent for defense-related investments.
As announced today by the Prime Minister's Office, Slovenia will allocate two percent of GDP for basic defense capabilities, 1.5 percent for broader defense areas, and an additional 1.5 percent for strengthening resilience.
