Rutte believes the allies will agree to raise defense spending to 5% and that Spain will not jeopardize the summit

NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Rutte has expressed confidence that the 32 allies will agree at this Wednesday's summit to raise military spending to 5%, although he has acknowledged that this is a "difficult" decision. He has thus indicated that there is no other "alternative" to the Russian threat. In this context, he has said that the Spanish Government will not be an obstacle.

Today's meeting in The Hague seems the most difficult in recent years, given the international situation. Donald Trump will take part for the first time since taking office and put on the table of the NATO assembly theneed to increase defense spending .

"These are difficult decisions, let's be honest. Politicians have to make decisions," the NATO leader said on his arrival at the Hague summit.

The Spanish government is at the heart of the debate because last week President Pedro Sánchez informed NATO's Secretary-General that Spain will not commit to increasing defense spending and said that the proposal to reach 5% of allies is "irrational and counterproductive." 

But Alemania, France and Italy, for their part, have committed themselves, and it is expected that at today's summit all the other countries will commit to increasing military spending to 5% of GDP.

Thus, the Secretary-General of NATO has not attached any importance to the words of the Spanish President and has assured us that he is not concerned about the attitude of the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.

NATO members hope to reach an agreement.

Belgium's Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, has stated that if Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez believes that he can finance the military resources allocated by NATO with 2.1% of GDP and not 3.5%, the "genius"is da.

Acting Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof has said it is "premature" to assess the consequences for Spain if it fails to meet its targets, while Italy's Vice-President of the Government and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, has stressed that, like other countries, Spain must "respect the rules."

According to GreekPrime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, NATO must ensure "fair distribution," and GermanChancellor Friedrich Merz has described today's meeting as a "historic summit," and believes that a joint decision will be reached.