Spain's commitment to reach a defense spending of 2% of GDP by the year 2029 is threatened by a lack of planning and execution. Despite promises from Pedro Sánchez and Defense Minister Margarita Robles, no strategy has yet been approved to achieve this goal.
In 2014, Spain committed to reaching this percentage by 2024, which was not fulfilled. The slow growth of defense spending now requires an additional effort of at least 14 billion a year to meet NATO obligations. The lack of planning by the Spanish government raises doubts about the feasibility of this increase.
Experts like Antonio Fonfría and Carlos Calvo González-Regueral warn that the absence of a structured plan could lead to inefficient and misdirected spending, especially if debt or tax increases are relied upon to finance this budget increase.
Poor planning also jeopardizes Spain's ability to respond effectively to drastic economic changes in the future. Without a clear roadmap, the country may miss the opportunity to strengthen its defense capacity effectively.
In this regard, it is essential to address inefficiencies in public resource management and establish a detailed plan that allows for the fulfillment of the commitment made. The lack of a long-term strategy complicates compliance with objectives and increases uncertainty about Spain's ability to meet its defense obligations.
As the year 2029 approaches, time is running out, and the need for effective planning becomes increasingly urgent. Only with a systematic approach and efficient resource management can the necessary increase in defense spending be achieved without compromising other priority areas of the national budget.
