Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez Encourages Defense Technology Improvement As A Priority For The European Union

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (photo: x @sanchezcastejon)

JAKARTA Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that the European Union should focus more on improving defense technology capabilities rather than just increasing weapons supplies. This statement was made at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, March 20.

Sanchez criticized the concept of "re-armedness" mentioned in the white book by the EU's head of diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, who recommended the purchase of weapons together.

"We have to talk in a different way to citizens when discussing the need to improve the security and defense capabilities of Europe," he said.

He stressed that the European Union is a soft power-based political project, but now it also has responsibility in terms of hard power. In addition to increasing the defense budget, he argues that the security aspect should also be a major concern.

According to him, South European countries face different challenges compared to allies in Eastern Europe. Therefore, their main focus must be on strengthening border control, eradicating terrorism, and protecting against cyberattacks.

Sanchez faces challenges in balancing defense policies that are in line with European partners, while at home he is under pressure from a far-right coalition that prioritizes social spending. Spain is noted to have the lowest defense budget among NATO members by 2024, spending less than 1.3% of GDP.