Spain boosts defense budget by £980m amid global unrest

As reported by PAP, the government has authorized exceptional spending on the country's military capabilities under Pedro Sanchez's leadership. On Wednesday, Margarita Robles, the Minister of Defense, announced that £980 million has been set aside for this purpose.

Robles emphasized that this additional funding would be used to acquire new armaments. This move is driven by the tumultuous state of global affairs, necessitating an uptick in defence expenditure. The primary objective of this increased spending, as stated by the Spanish Defense Minister, is to enhance national security. "Investing in defence is investing in peace. It’s peace written with a capital 'P'," Robles remarked, underlining the significance of these measures.

Margarita Robles also expressed her belief that the Sanchez government's special allocations for bolstering the armed forces will help augment civilian security and boost general well-being. "Thanks to these expenditures, we can anticipate, among other benefits, the creation of new jobs," the Defense Minister stated.

The additional military funding aims to "enhance the capabilities of various weapons systems, materials, ammunition, and military equipment." According to plans laid out by the Sanchez administration, Spain's defence spending is projected to climb from the current 1.2% of GDP to 1.3% by December 2024.

Source: PAP