As every year, the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has called the allies to account. The publication of the alliance's annual report serves the States to take stock of the fulfillment of the commitments acquired year after year. Spain leaves this 2025 examination without major new developments, with the confirmation of having reached the 2% GDP investment in defense, as agreed.
If the country stands out in anything compared to its allies, it is in the modernization of its capabilities. Spain has allocated nearly half of its defense budget to equipment acquisition, specifically 44.17%, which far exceeds the minimum guideline of 20% set by the alliance. What the document released this Thursday confirms is that, from the 2014 Wales Summit until today, spending in real terms has increased by 117.09%, which in the last fiscal year amounted to 33,589 million euros.
New objectives after The Hague
During the Hague Summit 2025 last summer, the allies closed new goals that not only referred to the purchase of conventional weaponry, but to a deep transformation towards a new model of digital integration. The objective is to multiply current capabilities by five to face threats ranging from small drones to missiles, as well as the acquisition of thousands of new tanks. The modernization seeks to convert the alliance into a force fully capable for multi-domain operations.
Diplomatic sources had been arguing that Madrid maintains a transversal presence, with participation in practically all NATO fronts. A theory that, known the results of 2025, is confirmed by verifying its participation in deployments such as those on the Eastern Flank, Turkey or specialized missions. Spain is a key contributor to rotational air surveillance in countries like Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Romania, in addition to contributing troops to enhanced land surveillance.
The Spanish seal
The review highlights that a Spanish Patriot missile battery is maintained to reinforce Turkey's air defense. The Navy also actively participates in permanent naval forces and mine countermeasure groups, which it accompanies with its contribution to Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean for maritime security and counter-terrorism. Regarding specialized missions, it provides capabilities in maritime patrol aircraft, amphibious forces, and aircraft carrier battle groups.
NATO maintains the design of a technological ecosystem to preserve military advantage against other powers. The Spanish Government is one of the 24 that supports this sovereign venture capital fund of more than one billion euros, destined to invest in deep technology companies. It also forms part of the multinational allied software program for cloud services. It is a high-visibility project whose objective is to create a “digital backbone” that allows sharing classified information securely and quickly on the battlefield.
Despite the confirmation of Spanish compliance with the minimum guideline of the 2% of spending, it is indeed below other leaders in investment, such as Poland (4.3%), the United States (3.19%) or Germany (2.39%). However, it maintains a similar level to France, which invests 2%, and above countries like Belgium. However, Spain is one of the countries that has most accelerated its investment, surpassing even Washington's growth in the last ten years.