Ahead of Nato summit: Spain takes a stand
The Hague is on tenterhooks in the run-up to the Nato summit that begins on Tuesday. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez surprised everyone by announcing that his country was rejecting the US demand to raise defence spending to 5 percent of GDP. As a result, Spain has been singled out from the 32 Nato members and granted an exemption. Europe's media are impressed by Spain's bold stance.
Unprecedented refusal
This will be a fiery summit, El País predicts:
“Any responsible government, whatever its political stripes, would have taken a similar decision. To do otherwise would be hypocritical and involve making a commitment that cannot be fulfilled. ... The underfunding of Europe's defence is the result of blind faith in US protection, as well as spending cuts. ... The international situation is forcing us to rethink this course. But this shouldn't be done in haste, simply to meet an arbitrary target figure that is completely unrealistic and beyond Spain's capacity. ... Spain's unprecedented refusal means we can expect a turbulent summit.”
Trump's will is not law in Europe
Writing in eldiario.es, former Brigadier General José Enrique de Ayala is impressed:
“A valiant position - and one that must be backed by all Spaniards, regardless of their political persuasion. ... This is about defending our sovereignty. ... Since Nato's inception in 1949, no European nation has dared stand up to the US. ... If Spain holds its ground now, and receives support from other allies, it will rationalise a decision made by a single individual - Donald Trump - without taking into consideration the interests of those affected. Spain will show him that he cannot simply do as he pleases, that outside his own country his will is not law, and that Europe is not at his mercy. ”
Only Madrid gets a "discount"?
La Repubblica warns:
“This 'exemption' is unlikely to be without consequences. ... Italy and Belgium also had their doubts about the new commitments, but capitulated in the end. Many diplomats are now asking themselves how the others will accept the 'discount' that has been awarded exclusively to Madrid. We should also bear in mind that Italy currently spends 1.3 percent of GDP on defence. Increasing this to even 3.5 percent will mean investing at least 30 billion euros.”