Why does the Spanish government seem reluctant to support European defense?
First by this question I mean the Spanish government and Sanchez, I realise like in any democracy, not all Spaniards will support a Spanish government
But why does Spain refuse to for example the NATO agreement to increase the defense budget given times are growing more tense with Russia and Iran and China.
Spain was the only NATO country to my knowledge last year that rejected an increase to 5%. Why? I realise for Spain Russia and Eastern Europe might be something far away but a part of NATO is collective defense and surely the growth of Europe benefits Spain too? Even Greece agreed and it is one of the poorest EU states?
Now this isn’t completely related to it but also why is the Spanish government under Sanchez so hostile to military action against Iran given Iran is a major ally of Russia, a state sponsor of terrorism and massacred tens of thousands of protestors in January?
Like Trump is terrible of course, I don’t think most Europeans anywhere like him, I definitely don’t but if the US succeeds at overthrowing the IRGC that is a major benefit to Europe irrespective of who’s responsible
Posted Mar 5, 2026, 4:46 PM UTC