Strengthening Europe's security: Spain’s commitment to military spending and strategy

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has expressed his readiness to accelerate military spending and advocates for a strategy that ensures Europe’s protection on all fronts. During a joint appearance with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Sánchez outlined his proposal to support countries sharing borders with Russia. He emphasized the need for not just loans but subsidies for Eastern European nations, specifically suggesting these subsidies be directed to the Baltic states and Nordic countries closest to the Russian border.

Sánchez underscored that threats to any EU member state are threats to the entire Union, highlighting the importance of unity. On a recent visit to Helsinki, he welcomed Ukraine's acceptance of Washington's proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, extendable with mutual consent, and dependent on Russia’s simultaneous compliance. He stressed that the EU is prepared to play its part in peace negotiations, as Ukrainian and European security are interdependent. His main objective remains a lasting peace that respects Ukraine's sovereignty, based on international law and security guarantees.

In his strategy, Sánchez emphasized the need for a comprehensive response, asserting that the stronger the unity within the EU, the more resilient it would become. Spain’s proposed strategy includes a 360-degree approach to protect Europe from all threats, whether from the north or south. Sánchez also supported Finland's proposal for an EU investment bank and advocated for the relaxation of fiscal rules to facilitate defense spending. Spain is ready to utilize these tools within its national budget, contributing significantly to the EU’s economic growth.

Sánchez reaffirmed his commitment to reaching 2% military spending as agreed at the NATO summit in Wales in 2014, along with other commitments and capabilities. Despite recent increases in defense spending over the past seven years, Sánchez emphasized that the key is not only to spend more but to "spend better" by identifying the specific defense capabilities European countries need and how to fund them. This, he believes, should involve a common exercise within the European Commission.