The President of the Government did not express his rejection of reaching 5% of GDP during the meeting, while before and after he did. The difference: the presence of the U.S. leader. Pedro Sánchez did not make any plea or argue his rejection to increase military spending beyond 2% of GDP during the NATO leaders' meeting.

After the increased spending pledges, President Donald Trump echoed his “ironclad commitment” to NATO’s mutual defense obligation.

NATO members agreed to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to comply just days before a summit in The Hague meant to be a show of unity.