NATO countries have adopted a declaration ahead of the upcoming summit, setting a goal to increase annual defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, overcoming opposition from Spain.

Source: Reuters and DPA, a German press agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The declaration has reportedly been approved by all 32 NATO members, but it will only become official once endorsed by leaders, including US President Donald Trump, at the summit in The Hague on Wednesday.

DPA confirmed that NATO member states reached an agreement on the planned defence spending targets just days before the key summit in The Hague.

It remains unknown how Spain was persuaded to drop its objections.

Reaching consensus on the 5% GDP target can be considered a victory for Donald Trump, who has for months demanded that allies commit to significantly boosting their defence budgets.

Background:

• Spain had publicly opposed NATO’s earlier proposal to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP and security-related expenditures to 1.5% of GDP. 
• In response, US President Trump stated that "NATO should deal with" the country.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urging him to consider a "more flexible formula" for defence spending.

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