Sánchez arrives at NATO with the pulse of 2.1% defense spending before Trump and Begoña Gómez out due to judicial veto

Pedro Sánchez arrives this Tuesday at the NATO summit in Ankara with two open fronts. One, the clash with Donald Trump over military spending. Another, the judicial decision that has prevented Begoña Gómez from accompanying him to Turkey despite being invited as the spouse of the President of the Government.

The summit kicks off on July 7 and 8 with the 32 allies awaiting the United States. Trump demands that Europe assume more spending, more military purchases, and more responsibility within the Alliance. The goal agreed upon by NATO points to 5% of GDP by 2035, although Spain maintains that it can meet the required capabilities without reaching that figure.

The Government comes with a closed position. Spain defends that 2.1% of GDP is enough to comply with NATO if the debate is measured by real capabilities and not just by percentage. José Manuel Albares summarized it this Monday with a direct phrase: “I wish all NATO allies complied like Spain.”

Spain claims 2.1%

Moncloa wants to take the message to Ankara that Spain does not arrive at the summit as a lagging partner. Albares recalled that the country has already reached around 2% and has delivered the capabilities requested by the Alliance. He also pointed out that there are still allies who do not reach 2% and others who have not met all the required capabilities.

Margarita Robles has followed the same line. The Minister of Defense maintains that Spain can attend the summit “with its head held high” and is preparing a package of 15 new military programs to maintain defense investment around 2% this year. The Government wants to reinforce capabilities without accepting the 5% logic promoted by Trump.

The NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has increased the pressure on the eve. From Ankara, he has asked allies for “clear, concrete and credible” plans to advance towards new spending commitments. He has also warned that the current level of European dependence on the United States is no longer sustainable.

The PP has taken advantage of the summit to demand a single stance from the Government and more commitment to Euro-Atlantic security. In Moncloa they reject that interpretation and recall that Spain has more than 2,000 military personnel deployed on the eastern flank, in addition to presence in NATO missions and participation in military modernization plans.

Begoña Gómez is left out of Ankara

The other focus was not on the official program of the summit, but it has ended up fully entering the Spanish political agenda. The substitute judge for Juan Carlos Peinado, Antonio Viejo, has allowed Begoña Gómez to travel to London to attend her daughter's graduation, but has forbidden her from going to Ankara with the president.

Gómez had requested authorization to leave Spain between July 7 and 10. Her defense explained that she would travel to Turkey on an official plane, with the Spanish delegation, and then return via London to attend the family event. She also stressed that she would be accompanied at all times by the Presidency's security team.

The court has accepted the trip to London due to judicial cooperation with the United Kingdom and the family nature of the event. In contrast, it has rejected the trip to Turkey, considering that Gómez would not have an active role in the summit and that Ankara is outside the European area of freedom, security, and justice.

The Prosecutor's Office did not oppose her leaving Spain. The popular accusations, led by HazteOír, demanded that the prohibition be maintained. Moncloa has described the decision as "incomprehensible".

Peinado, on vacation and the case in his suitcase

The resolution is signed by Viejo because Peinado is on vacation. The presiding judge was the one who withdrew Begoña Gómez's passport last June 20, prohibited her from leaving the country, and imposed periodic appearances after opening oral proceedings for alleged crimes of influence peddling, corruption in business, embezzlement, and misappropriation.

Peinado's order had already caused a strong controversy for suggesting that Gómez's escorts could help her in a possible escape. The Ministry of Interior protested before the CGPJ and police unions flatly rejected that suspicion about National Police agents.

Antonio Viejo, moreover, is not an unknown judge in the Madrid political scene. He is the head of the court that is investigating the case of Alberto González Amador, Isabel Díaz Ayuso's partner, for alleged tax fraud. This Monday he was also the magistrate who left Begoña Gómez out of the Spanish delegation in Ankara.

Sánchez lands in Turkey with Trump pushing for 5%, Rutte asking for credible plans and the PP trying to turn the summit into another internal front. Begoña Gómez will not be in Ankara. The Government has already decided to politically fight that absence.