Sánchez arrives at NATO summit armed with data to defy Trump's 5% defence spending demand

A summit under strain

The 36th NATO summit opens in Ankara on 7 July 2026 against a backdrop of deepening transatlantic friction. Donald Trump has spent months berating European allies for what he calls inadequate defence investment, singling out Spain as a "disaster" for refusing to commit to spending 5% of GDP on its military by 2035. The US president has already withdrawn 5,000 troops from Germany and threatened Spain with tariffs and historical parallels to the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam.

Spain is terrible even from your point of view. I mean, they don't want to pay anything. They think they're going to get everything for free.

Pedro Sánchez arrives with a dossier of NATO's own data, determined to show that Spain is not the laggard Trump portrays. Government sources say the Spanish delegation is calm and believes the criticism is more evenly distributed this year, with several allies still short of the 2% baseline and others unlikely to meet the 5% target on schedule.

Spain's counter-narrative in numbers

Moncloa's case rests on a series of metrics drawn from alliance reports. Since 2018, Spanish defence spending has climbed from €11,172 million to €35,419 million, a 154% increase that makes Spain the sixth-fastest-growing spender in NATO over eight years. In absolute terms, Spain now runs the seventh-largest defence budget among the 32 allies, equivalent to the combined spending of 13 other member states. The country reached the 2% of GDP threshold in 2025 and insists it will not be pushed further.

Beyond budget figures, Spain points to operational contributions. It is the third-largest troop contributor to NATO missions, has taken command of the alliance's naval reaction force for the first time, and ranks eighth in military aid to Ukraine with €3,795 million committed since the 2022 Russian invasion. A capability assessment completed in June placed Spain seventh overall in meeting its assigned military targets, ahead of the alliance average and some larger members such as Canada.

Spain is an ally that fulfils its commitments, leads and acts where it is needed, strengthens key capabilities for the Alliance, and does so without renouncing its principles, sustainability and social cohesion.

Trump's pressure campaign

The US president has coupled his spending demands with a broader call for "loyalty," criticising European allies for not backing his military offensive in Iran. His administration has used both words and actions: in May, 5,000 American soldiers were pulled from bases in Germany, while the Pentagon simultaneously reinforced its presence in Poland. Trump's rhetoric has included a direct threat to Spain during a rally in late June, invoking the 1898 Spanish-American War.

They're not behaving well. They'll learn soon. Just like when they gave up Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam, and they all became ours. We took everything.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has aligned himself with Washington's push, warning that the alliance has "ways to convince" the one or two remaining holdouts. Moncloa, however, downplays Rutte's influence, noting he must balance Trump's demands with the views of other members.

What Madrid expects in Ankara

Spanish officials believe the debate over the 5% target is largely rhetorical and that the data will force a more grounded discussion. They argue that if the conversation is not based on facts, it reduces to subjective opinion. The government has also signalled that even a worst-case scenario, such as the closure of US bases at Rota and Morón, would not compromise Spanish defence, as Article 5 guarantees would remain in place.

Sánchez's team acknowledges a "profound disagreement" with the White House but sees no reason to retreat. The Spanish president is expected to reiterate his position during the leaders' dinner on Tuesday evening, betting that the alliance's own scorecards will shield him from the kind of public dressing-down he received at the 2025 Hague summit, where Spain was the only ally to reject the 5% pledge.