Release date
The state of Spain’s military capabilities will be on the table at a bilateral meeting with NATO in Madrid, known as “Step 3.” The Pentagon is scheduled to present to NATO representatives at the end of January the Chief of Staff’s capability goals, troop growth and 79 plans currently in development.
These programs cover land, naval, aerospace, cyber, and information systems. These include 31 special modernization programs ranging from tracked combat vehicles to F-100 frigates, electronic warfare systems, and utility helicopter upgrades.
The Industrial Technology Plan for Security and Defense, approved in April 2024, has mobilized a further 10.741 billion euros this year, which officials at the ministry led by Margarita Robles say have been fully implemented.
Conflict over percentage of GDP
This is the problem. Spain pledged at the Hague summit to allocate 2% of its GDP to national defense, compared to the 5% agreed to by other allies. Pedro Sánchez’s government claims that 2.1% of GDP is enough to meet the agreed capacity requirements. But NATO believes at least 3.5% is necessary.
The investment also aims to strengthen national strategic autonomy and the defense industrial base, with many Spanish companies participating in the program. Plans include knowledge transfer and reducing overseas dependence.
Strengthening international presence
At the operational level, with the approval of the Council of Ministers on December 23, Spain will deploy around 4,000 military personnel and private security personnel to 15 countries during 2025. However, for the time being there are no Spanish troops stationed in Greenland.
The most important participants are concentrated in NATO’s eastern flank, with troops stationed in Latvia, Slovakia and Romania. It also maintains a presence in Operation Sustained Effort, which brings together air force police and airspace defense missions in addition to permanent naval groups.
The Executive says the 2025 balance sheet is very positive and assures that military investment will continue.