Portugal sets out for NATO summit “with 2.01% of GDP on defence”

Portugal’s defence minister Nuno Melo says he is bound for the NATO summit in Ankara next week (July 7-8) with Portugal having reached 2.01% of GDP in military spending.

In his opening remarks to a parliamentary hearing this week, he said that “despite two upward revisions of GDP (…) Portugal can now proudly say that it fulfills the commitments it makes.”

More specifically, and in response to Socialist MP Luís Dias, Nuno Melo specified that Portugal invested €6.1 billion in defence last year.

Of this amount, €4.1 billion was allocated to the Ministry of National Defence, €1.16 billion to Finance, €266 million to the Ministry of Internal Administration, €63 million to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and €558 million to “other ministries”.

Minister Melo stressed, however, that this 2% target – which was already set by NATO in 2014 – is only a first milestone, since at the Hague summit last year, the allies committed to reaching 5% by 2035.

The minister stated that Portugal “will continue to fulfill its commitments to NATO, particularly regarding the formation of a medium brigade, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and air defence.”

On a geopolitical note, Nuno Melo observed that the United States “is withdrawing from many of its capabilities and support within NATO for geopolitical reasons” and noted that, in this context, “Canada and its European allies have increased their investment from 27% to nearly 40%”.

He pointed out that this increase in investment demonstrates “preparation for a scenario in which European allies” and Canada will have to assume greater responsibility.

Also talking ahead of the summit, but to Turkey’s Andalou news agency, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte said he hopes the gathering becomes one where member states ‘deliver’, and where they “really ramp up defence industrial production” – something Portugal is already supremely focused on.

Source material: LUSA/ Anadalou agency

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.