Nato decisions are only taken by consensus. Sánchez’s opt-out rests on a change in the text from “we” to “allies” in the sentence referring to the pledge to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, said two officials involved in the negotiations.

Spain obtained an exemption from NATO’s ambitious defense spending target of 5% of GDP after several days of diplomatic wrangling that drew scorn from Donald Trump, right before leaders of the military alliance gather on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says that Spain reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from a 5% of GDP defense spending target