Spain is making significant strides to redefine its national defense strategy, aiming to align itself with European Union (EU) defense policies, especially against the backdrop of the Ukraine war and shifting geopolitical dynamics. This effort reflects Spain's recognition of the need to bolster its military capabilities and engage more actively within both the EU and NATO frameworks.
Recently, Fernando Mariano Sampedro, Spain's Secretary of State for the EU, emphasized the importance of addressing external influences on EU policy-making, particularly through discussions about misinformation and foreign interference. He stated, "We are asking for an item on fake news and foreign interference on the agenda of the March 20 European Council summit," highlighting the pressing need to safeguard democratic processes across Europe as he arrived for the General Affairs Council meeting.
The discussions at the council are part of broader preparations for the upcoming European Council summit, where EU leaders will grapple with pressing global issues. The provisional agenda includes discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness, and immigration, but Spain is advocating for more space to address defense policies.
At the informal leaders’ retreat held at the Egmont Palace on February 3, 2025, EU leaders sought to establish political guidelines for defense policy developments within the Union. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, noted, "Our effort is in the continuation of the work we started during the summit in Versailles... when we decided the EU needs to assume greater responsibility for its own defence." This acknowledgment marks the EU's commitment to enhancing its collective military capabilities amid rising tensions due to Russia's aggression and uncertainty surrounding future US defense policies.
Spain faces several challenges as it looks to fortify its defense strategies. While maintaining its defense spending at around 1.28% of GDP, Spain fell below NATO's target of 2%. Increasing the defense budget has become not only strategic but also politically necessary as Spain aims to meet its NATO commitments. Growing attention to defense spending has led the Madrid government to reaffirm its pledge to raise expenditures to the target benchmark.
Given the EU's call for enhanced cooperation, Spain's Ministry of Defense is poised to play a pivotal role. The upcoming European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) stands as Spain's chance to capitalize on EU investments, which may range between €100 billion to €500 billion over the next seven years. Such investments are intended to finance joint defense development and procurement, thereby reversing the current fragmentation within the European defense market.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, reinforced the need for joint efforts, stating, "Strengthening [the EU’s] cooperation in defence also means deepening our partnerships with NATO and non-EU European partners." This sentiment resonates well with Spain’s strategic ambition of aligning its national interests with broader European goals.
Despite Spain's strong performance under the previous European Defence Fund (EDF), where Spanish entities participated significantly, transitioning from research and development to procurement under the EDIP poses distinct challenges. Projects under the EDF allowed Spain to engage with European partners extensively, but the demand for managing complex military procurement contracts necessitates more cohesive national strategies and capabilities.
Spain must also navigate conversations surrounding investment priorities, particularly how to integrate its national defense needs with those of its EU counterparts. With the EU striving for unity, the disparity between member states' capabilities and requirements could complicate blended military projects.
Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, recently underscored the urgency for European allies to expand their defense capacities, asserting, "Stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe." His statements call for serious reflections from European nations, including Spain, on how to advance their military readiness and interdependencies effectively.
Spain's proactive responses to these challenges seek not only to increase its own defense budget but also to advocate for reforms within the EU's financial framework under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Spain's current defense budget allocations and anticipated future increases must work synergistically with European funding to truly amplify their military initiatives.
While the current discourse on defense spending remains heavy due to political constraints and economic pressures, the urgency of ensuring regional security has catalyzed Spain's government to express its commitment to meet NATO defense spending pledges.
Spain is also acknowledging the necessity of aligning EU and NATO defense initiatives. The alignment of military capabilities is not simply bureaucratic but stems from geopolitical realities and seeks to fortify Europe’s posture against external threats. The private sector, as well as institutions such as the European Investment Bank, will also have significant roles to play moving forward.
Conclusively, as Spain integrates its defense policies within the EU framework, it is well-positioned to benefit from collaborations like the EDIP. It must, nevertheless, accelerate its internal readiness and establish clear prioritizations within its defense architecture. Only by effectively managing both national and EU-level commitments can Spain hope to navigate the increasingly complex defense environment of Europe.