“Not a cent” will be paid with taxes, promises the prime minister. Spain accelerates calendar to fulfill NATO’s goal this year with a “injection” of 10 billion euros.
It has been the most posted question to and by political leaders in the debates for May 18 legislatures: what money does the parties want to increase the defense spending they promise in their programs?
This Tuesday, Spainthe country of the NATO that is further from reaching the goal of 2% by 2029 – invested 1.2% of GDP in defense in 2023 – announced its plan to accelerate its calendar to fulfill this goal this year: provides one Investment of 10.47 billion euros Under the Security and Defense Plan, approved by the Council of Ministers.
The plan was detailed by the Spanish Prime Minister, who justifies him with the current “geopolitical and economic context in rapid evolution”.
Pedro Sánchez said the Industry and Technological Plan will be sent to Brussels for evaluation by the European Union (EU) and NATO, with the aim of ensuring the country’s safety and “consolidating Spain” as a “central and reliable” member. But where will Spain look for this money to meet NATO’s defense goals?
“Not a cent” will be paid with taxes
The secretary general secretary of the Spanish Workers Socialist Party (PSOE) has ensured that additional investment will be made without compromising social or environmental spending, without increasing taxes or deficit or debt, as he had advanced last month.
The money for the defense will come from public savings generated by the good performance of the Spanish economy, unused national budget funds and from unused funds for pandemic recovery In the EU, he guaranteed the prime minister.
Sánchez indicated that this plan will create close to 100 thousand jobs In the country, of which 36 thousand direct and 60 thousand indirect, mostly “with levels of qualification and salaries higher than the Spanish”. The Spanish Prime Minister pointed out that the plan will result in increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 0.4 and 0.7 percentage points.
The plan, in 5 chapters
The additional amount of 10.47 billion euros will join the investment made over the last years until it reaches a total value of 33.123 billion euros In security and defense, which presupposes 2% of GDP.
The first pillar of the plan will concentrate 35% of spending to increase the number of armed forces, Improve labor conditions and equipment.
The plan also includes Preparation, manufacture and acquisition of new telecommunications and cybersecurity skills, manufacture and purchase of new defense and dissuasive equipment – Chapter that will absorb 19% of the investment – and the reinforcement of military capacities in response to emergencies and natural disasters (17%).
The fifth chapter of the plan will be destined to improve the safety conditions of almost three thousand staff who are part of the 16 Spanish peace missions abroad.
Not everyone agrees
Sánchez said he will present, during the day, the plan to the deputies, but, according to the Constitution, does not need the approval of the Congress of Deputies (Baixa Chamber) because the plan does not imply greater budgetary effort.
The Spanish Prime Minister, who leads a divided coalition government on this topic, recognized the existence of divergences In this question.
“There are, but I believe honestly, I firmly believe that this is a matter of the country to which we should all contribute, to ward off differences because it is at stake something as serious as the security of Europe and Spain,” said Pedro Sánchez.
In March, Sánchez had advocated the creation of a “Common Security and Defense Policy” with unique financial instruments and “joint purchases”, as happened with Covid-19 vaccines, as well as Pan-European Defense Industries and the formation of a European army.
The executive, formed by the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the left platform Somar, Government without absolute majority And it depends on a ‘geringon’ of eight different sensitivities parties represented in Parliament to enable laws such as the State Budget.
