David Lammy, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, visited Madrid on Monday for the fourth G5+ meeting, symbolizing the UK's renewed engagement with Europe.

Amid shifting dynamics rooted in the changing US administration, Lammy’s visit highlights Britain's focus on strengthening security and defense collaboration with the European Union, despite ongoing Brexit tensions.

During this meeting, hosted by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Lammy is expected to convey a clear message: "ALL OF US MUST SPEND MORE ON DEFENSE." This call comes particularly directed at Spain, which currently allocates the lowest percentage of GDP to military spending among NATO member states.

The G5+ meeting includes foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, alongside Ukraine's Foreign Minister and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.

Together, these countries form a coalition that collectively engages in defense matters within the NATO framework, also shared with London.

Currently, Poland and other nations in the group already exceed the NATO guideline of spending 2% of GDP on defense, with announcements of significant increases in military investments from Italy and France.

Germany, too, has undertaken historic reforms to allow unprecedented levels of defense spending, reflecting the urgency instilled by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Spanish government has only recently reaffirmed its commitment to reach 2% of GDP by 2029, with no specific timeline for such increases; the current defense spending stands at 1.28%.

Both NATO and the EU have suggested a target of 3.5% for member states, with EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, raising this issue during discussions on European defense enhancements.

NATO's leader, Mark Rutte, has also indicated that the upcoming summit in The Hague this June will address these spending thresholds more formally.

Last week’s meeting in Paris saw commitments from both the UK and France to deploy troops in Ukraine, contrasting with Spain’s approach, which deems such actions "premature" while peace remains elusive.

Discussions in Madrid are likely to dwell on ensuring collective responses to Russia's actions under President Vladimir Putin.

Lammy's message will rely on Prime Minister's commitment to increase UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, as outlined in the recent Spring Statement.

Sources from the British government affirm that increased defense spending by all nations is seen as essential to deter future conflicts.

The G5+ meetings, also known as the Weimar Plus Group, were established in late 2024 to improve dialogue about European security issues, particularly focusing on support for Ukraine amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

The previous meetings took place in Warsaw, Berlin, and Paris, reflecting a strategic shift towards a more cohesive European defense posture.

As geopolitical challenges mount following the integration of a new US administration, the Spanish government has recognized the need for increased defense collaboration.

Only recently, the first official contact from the Trump administration occurred with Spain, reaffirming the importance of the bilateral partnership and the necessity for Spain to align its defense expenditures with NATO commitments, particularly emphasizing cooperation on migration and security issues.

Lammy's agenda includes discussions on addressing security concerns and elaborating joint actions based on the leaders’ summit plans, while also highlighting the commitment to evaluating each member's capabilities and contributions to collective security efforts.