At the NATO summit in Washington, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged the alliance to strengthen its southern flank.

Sánchez emphasized the need for NATO to address threats from terrorism, illegal migration, and Russian influence in the Sahel region.

He called for consistency in applying international law, arguing that NATO should demand respect for it in both Ukraine and Gaza.

Despite Spain's low defense spending, Sánchez reaffirmed the country's commitment to reach the 2% GDP target by 2029. The summit is expected to approve an action plan for NATO's southern neighborhood, a priority for Spain since the 2022 Madrid summit.