On Thursday in Brussels, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized that the European Union should prioritize enhancing its technological capabilities for self-defense instead of merely increasing its weapon stockpiles.
In response to the white paper presented by the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, which advocates for collective military procurement, Sanchez expressed his main concern regarding the term “rearming.”
“We need to communicate differently and engage our citizens in a new way when discussing the necessity of improving security and European defense capabilities,” he stated.
“The EU represents a political initiative of soft power, but we also have responsibilities related to hard power in today’s context. We are dedicated not only to increasing our defense budget but also to addressing security from this perspective.”
He noted that Southern European nations face distinct challenges compared to their Eastern European counterparts, highlighting the need to enhance border security, combat terrorism, and address cyber threats.
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“These factors must be considered as we discuss the new financial instruments and fiscal regulations that will be available in the coming years,” he added.
Sanchez, representing the Socialist party, is navigating a complex situation as he aims to align with European allies on military expenditure and strategic independence while contending with domestic opposition from left-wing coalition partners who are hesitant to reduce social spending.
In 2024, Spain recorded the lowest defense spending as a percentage of GDP within NATO, at under 1.3%.