In the run-up to the summit, Spain emerged as the lone holdout against the spending target. Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, is in a tight spot at home, battling allegations of corruption by his aides and unable to pass a budget. “A 5% spending would be disproportionate and unnecessary,” he said on June 22nd.

NATO’s summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday has been described as “transformational” and “historic.” “We’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO," Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said.The 32 members of the world’s biggest security organization endorsed a plan to massively ramp up defense spending,

NATO leaders convening Wednesday in the Netherlands were prepared to offer President Donald Trump a major win by boosting their defense spending targets.