Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, stated on Wednesday that he hopes the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will lift its reservations about a new defense spending target of 5% of GDP. This target is expected to be discussed at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June, which U.S. President Donald Trump is also scheduled to attend.

Whitaker emphasized the importance of all NATO allies committing to invest a minimum of 5% of their GDP in defense, citing rising global threats.

He described the upcoming summit as an opportunity for allies to coalesce around this commitment.

The ambassador's remarks follow a direct appeal from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares at the end of May. Rubio publicly urged Spain to align with its NATO allies in dedicating 5% of its GDP to military spending.

Decisions within NATO are made by unanimous consent of its 32 member states, which adds pressure on Spain regarding this request.

Despite these calls, the Sánchez administration has thus far rejected the push for increased defense spending, which may impact negotiations at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting scheduled for Thursday in Brussels, where initial discussions had anticipated progress on this matter.

The Spanish government has argued that it has already made significant efforts to reach the existing NATO target of 2% of GDP, with a planned increase in military spending of €10.5 billion.

Government officials have stated that the focus should shift to military capabilities rather than setting new spending targets.

While Sánchez’s government contends that it is not alone in opposing the 5% target, no other NATO allies have publicly opposed the U.S. demands.

Opposition to the increased spending is notably present among Sánchez’s coalition partners and parliamentary allies, who view it as a potential arms race stimulated by NATO and the Trump administration.

Similarly, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has aligned with U.S. demands and formally proposed that the new 5% target be codified at the upcoming summit.

Rutte's proposal includes an increase from the traditional 2% military spending goal to 3.5% and introduces an additional 1.5% for broader security investments, encompassing military mobility, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism initiatives.

Rutte remarked on Wednesday that the summit must approve significant increases in defense spending to ensure future security, acknowledging that the U.S. has reasonable expectations for its allies to bolster their defense capabilities.

This anticipated increase in military spending may be financed through a range of fiscal adjustments, including cuts to social spending, tax increases, or additional borrowing, although ultimate decisions rest with individual national governments.