Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
THE HAGUE, June 26 (Xinhua) — Member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have agreed to increase annual defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, according to a statement released Wednesday following a summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
According to the five-point statement, the new spending target would be divided into two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for other defense-related spending, including critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and defense industrial development.
As specified in the document, the plan will be revised in 2029, taking into account the strategic situation and revision of potential targets.
US President Donald Trump welcomed the agreement at a press conference following the summit, saying Washington had long borne a very large share of the alliance’s defence burden.
He also criticised Spain as the only country refusing to fully meet its obligations.
According to D. Trump, the United States is negotiating a trade agreement with Spain, and Madrid could “pay twice as much” through trade measures.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced earlier on Sunday, ahead of the summit, that Spain had agreed with NATO to limit military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP.
In his statement, P. Sanchez warned that “a rapid transition to 5 percent” would lead to higher prices and government spending, and reduce investment in important areas such as education and digital development.
Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, P. Sanchez stressed that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the largest number of troops deployed worldwide.” He also noted that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies. –0–