German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul encountered little enthusiasm for increased defence spending during his visit to Spain and Portugal on Monday.
Germany is seeking to shore up support for a massive hike in defence spending, with both Wadephul and Chancellor Friedrich Merz backing a proposal to increase defence-related spending by NATO members to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), with an additional 1.5% for military infrastructure.
Such an increase in spending would require a massive financial commitment by NATO countries.
When asked by journalists after the meeting with Wadephul whether Spain was prepared to increase its defence budget to 5% of GDP in future, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded that Spain is making greater efforts in the defence sector than ever before.
However, Albares described the existing NATO target of 2% of GDP as “realistic.”
Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel meanwhile said his country would “naturally” support a decision to increase the military budget, but admitted that the target of 2% had “not yet been fully” achieved.
US President Donald Trump, signalling he is tired of European countries piggy-backing on Washington’s massive defence budget, is pushing for defence spending to be raised to 5% of GDP.
Spain is currently among the alliance’s members spending least on defence, with military expenditure amounting to some 1.3% of GDP – well below the current target of at least 2%.
While Portugal recently raised defence spending, expenditure in Europe’s westernmost nation only stood at 1.6% of GDP in 2024.