Only 11% of Spaniards Consider Military Spending Excessive. Most Spaniards do not view the military budget as excessive. Support for the government's stance on Ukraine and the Middle East has increased. Security and migration issues are coming to the forefront.
In Spain, there has been a notable shift in public perception of military spending: only 11% of respondents believe the country spends too much on defense. According to recent Gad3 data for the Tedae association, 82% of respondents are convinced that the current level of investment in security and defense is either insufficient (40%) or adequate (42%). Over the year, the share of those in favor of increasing or maintaining spending has risen by 10 points, while the number of those wanting to reduce it has dropped by 9.
A survey conducted at the end of April and beginning of May among more than 2,000 residents revealed: security and defense issues rank fifth among priorities, behind only housing, economic stability, and migration control. At the same time, 'illegal migration and border pressure' was named the main threat by 28% of participants, while international conflicts and the economic consequences of wars were cited by 23%.
Nearly all respondents (94%) note that external conflicts directly affect energy prices and living standards. Support for the government's position on Ukraine stands at 56% versus 31% in disagreement; on the Middle East and Gaza—48% versus 38%. However, opinions are divided on Venezuela: only 34% believe the authorities are taking the right approach, while 47% consider it wrong. The share of those who were undecided is highest here—17%.
Most Spaniards rate relations with the US as bad (64%) or very bad (19%), and only 22% consider them good. At the same time, NATO is seen as the organization most prepared to face challenges (55%), while the European Union is perceived this way by only half of respondents. Only 34% believe Spain is prepared for threats, whereas 64% see the country as insufficiently protected.
Opinions are divided on the matter of defense responsibility: 40% believe it is exclusively the state's duty, while 42% think citizens should also be ready to participate if necessary. Among the measures Spaniards believe would enhance security, leading options include reducing energy dependence (84%), supporting the defense industry (70%), and creating a European army (69%).
77% of respondents believe that defense companies play a key role in national security. Of these, 55% favor developing several specialized firms rather than a single large national structure (23%). Despite 53% considering current defense spending sufficient or even excessive, 52% support the US proposal to increase the military budget to 2% of GDP within NATO. However, the question did not specify the higher 5% threshold discussed at last year's Hague summit.
In the context of public sentiment and priorities, it is worth noting that interest in security and domestic stability is growing in Spain. This is also reflected in other high-profile issues, such as legal proceedings related to conflicts within major family-owned companies, as was the case with the investigation into the death of the Mango founder — more details can be found in the article .
For reference: the Gad3 survey for Tedae was conducted online across the country, covering 2,042 respondents, with a margin of error of 2.1%. Tedae unites leading technology companies in Spain's defense, aerospace, and space sectors.
