NATO’s Weakest Link Needs To Step Up

Photo via AP News

***

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization—otherwise known as NATO—is a military alliance founded in 1949. The organization was originally composed of 12 countries seeking to counter the Soviet Union’s expansion. 

Spain was not an original member of NATO. At the time, the country was under the fascist rule of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Its exclusion highlighted Franco’s fascist ideology of isolation, paired with a reluctance to enter Cold War politics, citing a long tradition of neutrality. On the other hand, NATO members had reservations about allowing an authoritarian regime into an alliance focused on promoting democracy. 

Spain remained isolated until the Pacts of Madrid of 1953. Divided into three executive agreements between the U.S and Spain, the pact created five U.S military bases on Spanish soil in exchange for economic and military aid.  The deal marked the start of Spanish reintegration into the Western bloc after it had aligned with the Axis Powers during World War II. This integration eventually led to Spain joining the United Nations in 1955.

Yet it was not until Franco’s death in 1975 that Spain began the transition towards democracy. This transition did not come without challenges, as the country faced political instability, economic uncertainty, and even a failed military coup that tested the durability of a newly democratic Spain. 

In October 1982, Spain held a national referendum approving NATO membership under certain conditions  ranging from a nuclear weapons ban to a reduced U.S presence within the country. It wasn’t until 1999 that Spain fully integrated itself into NATO’s military hierarchy. 

For decades, the hesitation to integrate Spain into NATO was understandable. The country was emerging from a dictatorship, and its political culture was adjusting to democratic norms.

40 years later, Spain’s democratic fragility is no longer questioned, but their reliability to NATO military doctrine is. Spain’s recent refusal with the United States over usage of Spanish military bases for Iranian targets in “Operation Epic Fury” is yet another example of Spain’s stubbornness.

This unreliability has heightened in the wake of the war in Ukraine and a wider shift in global politics. A changing world order is a major reason why U.S President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have insisted that NATO countries amend their commitments to defense spending,  encouraging allies to increase defense spending from 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent.

Spain has not met these benchmarks and remains amongst the lowest defense spenders in the alliance relative to GDP. The Spanish government has moved cautiously and prioritized domestic politics, while its European neighbors have dramatically increased military spending in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. 

Institutions like NATO are only as strong as the collective will of their members to uphold shared commitments. When one ally repeatedly falls short of agreed-upon obligations, it weakens the alliance’s credibility. In a security environment defined by revisionist powers and renewed great-power rivalry, credibility is not symbolic: it is strategic currency.

Spain remains a vital ally. Its geographic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean gives it control over key maritime routes and logistical corridors that are essential to NATO operations. Spanish ports, naval facilities, and air bases provide important support for alliance deployments across Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Atlantic. 

Spain is fully capable of meeting NATO member responsibilities. As one of the largest economies in Europe, it possesses the economic capacity and institutional stability necessary to expand its defense commitments if it chooses to do so. Increased military investment would not only strengthen NATO’s collective capabilities but also enhance Spain’s own influence within the alliance. Countries that contribute more resources to NATO inevitably play a greater role in shaping its strategic direction.

Thus, the question is not whether Spain belongs in NATO, but how it intends to participate. NATO remains the cornerstone of European security, and its effectiveness depends on the collective strength of its members. Spain has already demonstrated that it can be a constructive and capable partner within NATO operations. Increasing defense investment and aligning more closely with alliance benchmarks would reinforce that role and enhance the alliance’s credibility.

At a time when geopolitical competition is intensifying and security threats are becoming more complex, every member’s commitment matters.

Ultimately, NATO does not require perfect uniformity among its members. It does, however, require sustained engagement and shared responsibility. Spain’s strategic importance, economic strength, and democratic maturity position it to do more. Strengthening its commitment to collective defense would not only benefit the alliance but also reaffirm Spain’s standing as a reliable and indispensable partner in the transatlantic security community.

***

This article was edited by Catherine Hart Sheehy.