Caution urged in allocating 5% of national economy towards defence expenditure
Let's dive into the political scene, shall we? António José Seguro, the presidential candidate, has a cautious approach when it comes to Portugal's defense spending of 5% GDP within NATO. In a chat with the media post-meetup in Guimarães, he suggested a prudent approach, urging to first determine if the proposed objectives can be achieved with the same level of investment.
"Before spending more, let's spend better. And most importantly, let this spending occur within the European Union, creating autonomy, particularly at the technological and strategic level," Seguro stated.
Last week, the 32 NATO member countries decided to up their investment in defense to 5% GDP by 2035, with a review of objectives in 2029, following a summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
Seguro emphasized that the current investment needs to align with Portugal's resources and other domestic needs, such as housing, health, and the economy. "I'm always leery when we suddenly throw a high volume of resources into the defense sector," he added.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, on the other hand, pledged to reach the 2% GDP defense spending by the end of this year, requiring an additional investment of approximately one billion euros, according to government calculations.
The agreed 5% defense spending target for NATO countries was actually a surprising outcome of the summit. It was inspired mainly by U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership and pressure. Before this, the standard NATO defense spending target was 2% of GDP, which some member countries were struggling to meet as of 2024.
The European Union, composed of many NATO members, is moving towards this heightened commitment as part of the broader alliance agreement. The NATO agreement, ratified at the 2025 summit, requires members to submit annual plans to reach the 5% target via a “credible, incremental path,” with a review planned for 2029. The commitment is reaffirmed as part of NATO’s collective defense principle enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, emphasizing solidarity among members.
Despite the challenges, Europe is making its way toward this ambitious spending goal, signaling a collective strategic shift acknowledging evolving security threats and the need for enhanced investment.
"António José Seguro, the presidential candidate, proposed a strategic investment plan in the European Union, emphasizing a focus on technology and autonomy, even as NATO countries have agreed to increase defense spending to 5% GDP by 2035. Seguro advocated for prioritizing domestic needs such as housing, health, and the economy before committing to such investment."
"For Portugal, this proposed increased defense spending is a topic of concern, particularly in terms of its alignment with the nation's finite resources and current general-news issues like finance and business, which are deeply intertwined with domestic needs such as healthcare and housing."
