NATO success in pushing countries to 5% defence spending comes a little clearer
In the wake of the ‘leaked’ private message by NATO secretary general Mark Rutte to US President Donald Trump, referring to member countries all ‘signing up’ to spending 5% of GDP on defence, the reality is starting to become a little clearer.
Yes, countries have signed up (in that they have penned their names to a statement), but they are not bound by any kind of time limit. Indeed, Portugal’s prime minister Luís Montenegro has sketched out what he is envisaging, which comes to ‘investment’ of 3.5% of GDP over the next 10 years.
Words too have changed subtly. Government leaders no longer talk about ‘defence spending’, but ‘defence investment’: they are two very different things.
Talking in The Hague today, where the annual NATO summit will be drawing to a close, Mr Montenegro stressed that “Portugal’s investment will continue over the coming years within a context of balance” – and that it will not jeopardise the country’s financial situation.
He called NATO’s endeavours “a significant milestone in the assumption of co-responsibility, particularly in Europe, to be able to keep up with a level of investment that is compatible with the major challenges in order to face up to the threats and ensure that European citizens, and the Portuguese too, can enjoy the fulfilment of our democracy, the fundamental rights of citizens and the possibility of continuing to be a sovereign nation with our allies as a deterrent to any threat.”.
Portugal has “already taken on the task of achieving 2% of GDP in the area of defence this year”, he added – with an investment of 3.5% “over the next decade”.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the war in Ukraine to express Portugal’s and NATO’s support for Kyiv, writes SIC.
“Once again, I believe that the Atlantic Alliance will be very clear in its support for Ukraine in its quest for a just and lasting peace. A peace with Ukraine and with Europe too,” he said.
Source material: SIC
