• Spain rejects NATO's proposed 5% defense spending target as unreasonable.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez advocates for a more flexible spending formula.
• The rejection could jeopardize agreements at the upcoming NATO summit.
• Spain currently spends about 1.28% of GDP on defense, the lowest in NATO.
• Political pressure from coalition parties complicates the spending increase effort.

Spain has officially rejected NATO's proposal to increase defense spending to 5% of its GDP, calling it "unreasonable" and "counterproductive." Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed in a letter to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that such a commitment would conflict with Spain's welfare state and would hinder EU efforts to enhance its security and defense mechanisms, according to LA Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

In Sánchez's letter, he requested a "more flexible formula" that would either keep the spending target optional or exclude Spain from it altogether. His stance threatens the unity of NATO, where any agreement on increased defense spending requires unanimous approval from all 32 member states, according to India Times, LA Times, and Reuters.

Currently, Spain allocates approximately 1.28% of its GDP to defense spending, making it the lowest among NATO allies. While Sánchez has committed to meet NATO's existing 2% target by accelerating defense efforts, he emphasizes that rushing to meet a new 5% target would compromise Spain's broader policy objectives, as well as contribute to further erosion of its welfare programs, according to LA Times and Al Jazeera.

Sánchez faces increasing political pressure from coalition partners, notably far-left groups within his government who oppose any increase in defense spending. The political instability is exacerbated by corruption scandals affecting Sánchez's inner circle, raising suspicions of potential early elections, as noted by both LA Times and India Times.

With the NATO summit set to take place shortly, Sánchez has maintained that he does not intend to block any agreements during the meeting, but his request poses a significant challenge to the proposed increase in defense spending. As other NATO countries grapple with similar commitments, this situation could hinder the alliance's efforts to coordinate a unified defense strategy in response to threats, particularly from Russia, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and India Times.