Norwegian prime ministerJonas Gahr Støreis about to give a press conference on Norway’s contribution to Nato shortly.
Let’s see if he has anything to say on Spain’s objections, too.
I will bring you the key lines here.
Spain’s prime minister,Pedro Sánchez, hasrejected Nato’s proposalfor member statesto increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, saying the idea would “not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive”.
Sánchez said that he was not seeking to complicate next week’sNatosummit inThe Hague, but he wanted there to be a “more flexible formula” that would either make the target optional or allow Spain to opt out.
The proposal – advanced by the Nato secretary general,Mark Rutte, in response toDonald Trump’sdemands for a 5% target – suggests member states agree to raise defence spending to 3.5% of their GDP and commit a further 1.5% to wider security spending.
In a letter to Rutte that emerged on Thursday, Sánchez questioned the possible consequences of such a rise, saying it would be incompatible with Spain’s welfare state and its vision of the world.
“Committing to a 5% targetwould not only be unreasonable but also counterproductivebecause it would move Spain further away from optimal spending and would hinder the EU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and defence ecosystem,” he said.
“It is the legitimate right of every government to decide whether or not they are willing to make those sacrifices. As a sovereign ally, we choose not to.”
Spain currently lags well behind other western nationsby dedicating only about 1.3% of its GDP to defence spending, well short of the current Nato target of 2%. It has suggested a target of 2.1%.
One person was killed and at least 14 were injured whenRussiandrones attacked theUkrainian Black Seacity ofOdesaovernight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, Reuters reported local authorities as saying.
Odesa is Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port, key for imports and exports, and has been under constant missile and drone attacks by Russia since the war began, the agency noted.
“Despite the active work of air defence forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a higher education institution, a gas pipeline and private cars,” local governorOleh Kipersaid on Telegram messenger.
The latest attack comes 101 days after Ukraine accepted the US proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, but Russia continues to dither, delay and destroy and refuses to commit to the process.
It also comes just days beforethe Nato summitinThe Haguenext week, where Ukraine is expected to feature prominently on the agenda with the country’s president,Volodymyr Zelenskyy,among those attending.
Elsewhere, we will be looking at reactions to Spain’s criticism of the alliance’s new 5% spending target and other key developments across the continent, including French president Emmanuel Macron’s speech at the Paris Air Show.
It’sFriday, 20 June 2025, it’sJakub Krupahere, and this isEurope Live.
Good morning.