When NATO countries met in Wales in 2014, the crisis between Russia and Ukraine had already begun. A series of pro-Russian protests began in the east earlier this year, in March the Kremlin made Crimea accession effective, and the civil war in Donbas became a reality in April. At that summit, the member states of the Atlantic Alliance discussed these and other issues and were obliged to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense by 31 December 2024.
This goal is far from achievable. Spain has taken it a few times since then, but generally with a small mouth and knows it could not be reached in 2024. In 2017, Mariano Rajoy’s executive promised the alliance a budget increase, which then did not reach 1. % Of GDP, around € 18,000 million by 2024. In those years, from the White House, Donald Trump called on the Allies to spend more and accused them of putting their obligations on the shoulders of U.S. taxpayers.
President Pedro Sanchez has also repeatedly stated his intention to reach 2% of GDP. In 2018, he made a commitment to his predecessor, and in March last year, when the war between Russia and Ukraine had already begun, he said it was “urgent”, although he did not name a date. However, the Spaniards are opposed to an increase in defense allocations, the main programs of which are devoted to the purchase of military equipment and weapons in addition to personnel costs. In fact, 48.7% completely or categorically disagree with the increase in spending in the department headed by Margarita Robles, according to a recent Simple Lógica poll for ElDiario.es.
This percentage is clearly higher than those who want the executive to comply with this repeated request of the Atlantic Alliance: 42.1% completely or strongly agree with the increase in the allocation of the armed forces, while 9.2% of respondents neither agree nor disagree.
The Minister of Defense himself has spoken several times about the difficulties of achieving up to 2% of GDP. He did it already in 2018 and did it a week before Sanchez’s announcement in the Congressional Defense Committee. “We will never reach 2% as the vast majority of countries,” he said. Robles played, yes, a card of Spain’s “ability” and “contribution” to the Atlantic Alliance. Our country is the second NATO country with the fewest investments after Luxembourg, but participates in seven missions and has centers in the service of the organization.
Once again, when Sanchez’s allegiance was on the table, Robles re-formulated the expression If you see the pace for Belum Where it says that “investing in defense is investing in peace.” This is not the opinion of the majority of PSOE voters. According to a survey by elDiario.es, only 11.1% strongly disagree, compared with 25.1% who strongly disagree, although 35.3% strongly agree and 19.1% strongly disagree. The Socialists report 44.2% against and 46.4% in favor of increasing the defense budget.
Neither do the PSOE coalition partners in the executive branch. From United We Can they were opposed to increasing defense spending. Social Rights Minister and Podemos leader Ione Bellara confirmed that the war in Ukraine had provoked “war rage” and said that “what Spain needs is a more vital minimum income and no more tanks and weapons”. Second Vice President Yolanda Diaz speaks on the same line and says that “increasing the budget for research, education or health is a priority”, but she respects the position of her partners.
More than half (52%) of United We Can voters strongly disagree with the increase in defense spending, and 25% strongly disagree. They are the ones who find the most resistance to size, 77% between the two answers, according to the Simple Lógica survey, compared to 23% who agree quite (19%) or very (4%).
The issue has revealed another inconsistency in the coalition, but it has also opened a new rift in Sanchez’s relationship with his investment partners, who do not support the prime minister’s decision to increase defense spending. In fact, Sanchez did not explain how he was going to fulfill his obligation, beyond that it would be “progressive”.
The increase in spending in this department on consecutive general state budgets should specify who is in Monclo, who prepares them, and then they should have votes in Congress for approval.
On March 11, EU leaders agreed to “substantially” increase their spending at a summit in Versailles, where they pledged to “invest more and better in defense and innovation technologies.” Sanchez then said that Spain’s forecast for 2024 should reach 1.24%. Spain currently accounts for about 1% of GDP, around € 9.790 million.
Support for increased defense spending, which this year was 40% devoted to weapons and material programs, is more evident in right-wing parties. In PP 59.7% of its voters quite or very much agree; In Vox, 70.4%, and in Ciudadanos, 65.3%, according to this study. Meanwhile, 32.5%, 26.9% and 26.4% somewhat or strongly disagree respectively.
On March 29, the far-right party submitted a proposal to a plenary session of Congress to legislate for a 2% increase in GDP and to approve a unified military career law that would end the withdrawal of military personnel from the armed forces. Soldiers and sailors aged 45 years. Did not go forward. He only had the support of Ciudadanos and Foro Asturias, the only MP. PP refrained.
Among the voters of the other parties that make up the parliamentary arch, according to the results of this survey, there is also obvious opposition to the rise of the Defense Party. 52% strongly disagree. 28% strongly disagree. And only 15% and 6% agree quite strongly and strongly agree, respectively. This includes groups such as ERC, PNV, Compromís or BNG.
Those who could not vote in 2019 due to the age of 18 also also, for the most part, do not agree with the budget of this department reaching the 2% of GDP threshold. 58% disagree somewhat or categorically and only 32% are in favor, while 10% neither agree nor disagree.
The most obvious difference in positioning regarding this measure is found in the responses of men and women. Almost half of them (49.2%) strongly (20.3%) or quite a few (28.9%) agree with only 35.5% of the respondents. Only 10.4% of them agree with the increase. On the other hand, 46.4% of men disagree somewhat or categorically, compared to 50.8% of women.
Depending on the age, there is no clear pattern that would allow us to consider the increase or decrease in support more or less with age, although there are differences between some ranges and others. For example, the youngest, aged 18 to 24, are the least likely to support an increase in defense spending to 2% of GDP. Only 36.4% agree, compared to 54.8% against. In fact, no positive position in any age group exceeds 50%. 39.7% support 25 to 34 years; 35 to 44, 42.4%; 45 to 54, 41.5%; 55 to 65, 47.3%; And 42.2% among those over 65. Conversely, they are 54%, 44.3%, 53.5%, 44.8% and 45.8%, respectively.
The same question was asked in this survey according to the level of education. As it grows, so does the support for increasing the amount that goes to the Department of Defense. However, those who oppose the increase in military spending are the majority at all levels. Among those who have primary surveys, support for increasing the defense budget is 34.6%, compared with 45.1% for those who disagree. Those who enrolled in high school are 43.5% in favor and 51.7% against. This group is the one who takes a clearer position in this section. Of those who were able to get into university, 47% are in favor and do not agree with the 48% size.
Source: El Diario
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