NATO, in The Hague the summit to bring military spending to 5% of GDP: Italy follows Trump, clash between Spain and Rutte

A summit preceded by tensions and real political clashes. The one that will open on Tuesday 25 June in The Hague is a key summit for the future of NATO , the Atlantic Alliance: the objective of its secretary, the host Mark Rutte , is in fact to sanction the formal commitment of the 32 member countries to bring military spending to 5% of GDP , as requested by Donald Trump 's United States.

A controversial goal for many European economies, already struggling to reach the previous target of two percent. At the forefront on this point is Spain , led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , who in recent days had made it clear that his government had no intention of fulfilling the request of NATO and Trump so as not to take away public resources intended for welfare, healthcare and education.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reiterated that Spain's contribution will not be measured in percentages, but in operational capabilities. "We believe that the debate should not focus on percentages, but on capabilities. We believe that we can achieve the objectives set by NATO with 2.1% of GDP ," Albares said, underlining how this approach has been recognized by the Alliance itself.

Prime Minister Sanchez himself published on X a letter sent by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirming Spain's "flexibility to determine its own sovereign path to achieve its capability objectives".

Spain has a historical understanding with the OTAN that will allow it to continue being a key member of the Alianza and contribute proportionately to its capabilities, without having to increase its gas in defense, without exceeding the 5% of the PIB.

Let us protect Europe. But also… pic.twitter.com/jYc2Ilneaw

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) June 22, 2025

Yet on the eve of the summit, Rutte from The Hague essentially denies that Madrid is exempt from reaching 5% of GDP. "Spain has also agreed on the objectives. The fact is that Spain thinks it can reach these objectives with a percentage of 2.1%. NATO is absolutely convinced. NATO is absolutely convinced that Spain will have to spend 3.5% together ", the words of the number one of the Atlantic Alliance.

“Each country will now report regularly on what it is doing in terms of spending and achieving targets, so we will see. And in any case, there will be a review in 2029 ,” Rutte added. “NATO does not have an opt-out and does not know any side agreements or side agreements. All the allies will do is, of course, the sovereign right and flexibility to determine the path to follow to meet NATO commitments,” the NATO secretary said.

A hard line on the issue of investments that is reiterated by the US ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker in a briefing with the press on the eve of the summit in The Hague. "We must reach 5% as soon as possible , our adversaries will not wait for us to be ready", he added, specifying that there will be "regular reports" on the growth of spending and that the allies "will monitor each other".

And Italy? For Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani , our country will proceed as requested by NATO. “Having obtained both an extension of the terms and flexibility, I believe that we could reach the objective by 2035 ,” the deputy prime minister said. As for the billion-dollar investments in the defense sector, Tajani justifies them as follows: “It is not just spending on defense, it must be spending on security, which is something broader. Security is also a guarantee for citizens : it is not just an exclusively military choice. This is our line.”

Spending plan confirmed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking to the Chamber, who speaks of a commitment to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense and 1.5% on security . For the Prime Minister, this would be an increase in spending that does not distract resources from other priorities, even if on this point the Minister of Economy Giorgetti has long been skeptical to say the least.

"In essence, given that we are already at 2% of GDP" of spending "in defense, an increase of 1.5% in 10 years is not far from the commitment made by the government in 2014. Regarding the 1.5% of spending, we have obtained that the member states decide which threats they believe they must face and which tools to use. A path compatible with the government's priorities, we will not distract resources from the priorities identified by the government for the Italians", Meloni's words in the Chamber.