Spain referendum nato. President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to .

Spain referendum nato. Key Facts: Spanish Prime […] Finland has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 4 April 2023. 79% 28. In response, the opposition, led by the Socialist Party, demanded a referendum to decide on Spain’s contin-ued membership in the Alliance. 52% 29. 20% 33. Spain and NATO Did you know that it was a Spaniard who guided NATO through its first major peacekeeping operation? Find out what actually triggered Spain to join NATO in 1982 and why its accession was so important for the Alliance. VALLES, FRANCESC PALLARES AND RAMON MARIA CANALS Equip de Sociologia Electoral, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain 1. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday the NATO alliance should weigh throwing Spain out of its membership ranks over a dispute about the Western European nation's lagging military Jun 25, 2025 · "We're negotiating with Spain on a trade deal and we're going to make them pay twice as much," Trump said after the country refused to meet the spending target. Feb 21, 2005 · Despite the huge majority in favour of the European Constitution, the low turnout (42. Mar 14, 1986 · The referendum victory for NATO, which follows Spain's entry into the Common Market in January, confirms Spain's place as a Western country after centuries of isolationism. [21] Mar 1, 2019 · NATO THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO MAIN SPANISH POLITICAL PARTIES vis-à-vis the NATO referendum held on 12 March 1986 have caused commentators to recall that Spain, although much less so of late, always was 'different' and 'dramatic'; Lord Carrington, on a boost-the-Atlantic-Alliance visit to Madrid, was reported Within Within Spain, Spain, opposition opposition toto Nato Nato entry entry grew grew quickly quickly and and forcefully forcefully inin the the Socialist Socialist Workers Workers Party Party (PSOE), (PSOE), the the country's country's second second largest largest political political party. 27% 51. 5 billion euros ($12 billion) to reach NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. 32%, ie, seventeen points lower than turnout in 1986 when Spain’s membership of NATO was at stake) calls into question the Government’s two objectives in calling the referendum. Dec 1, 1986 · When a party-led government calls a referendum for its own strategic purposes, one might expect it to mobilize its own supporters in support of its position, as Felipe Gonzàlez attempted to do in the 1986 Spanish vote on NATO (Canals et al. 01% Burgos 54. The government is finding it politically difficult to increase it. , 1986). 1-85 in March. These countries, called NATO Allies, are sovereign states that come together through NATO to discuss political and security issues and make collective decisions by consensus. S. 99% 59. Mar 11, 2024 · At present, NATO has 32 member countries. These include support for defence spending, and for core NATO principles such as collective defence and the 1 day ago · During a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month, Donald Trump pouted when a reporter revealed to him that Spain can't be kicked out of NATO under current treaty Jun 17, 2025 · Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico has suggested that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week. A strong anti-NATO movement had been growing among the Spanish people. 09% Cádiz 70. Since 1949, NATO’s membership has increased from 12 to 32 countries through 10 rounds of enlargement. Mar 1, 1991 · In order to fulfil promises made during Spain's 1982 general election campaign, the Socialist government eventually held a referendum in 1986 to decide the question of Spanish integration into NATO. 37% Ávila 47. Contrary to its traditional opposition to NATO, the Socialists now favoured retaining the military alliance. 35% 40. Noting that this year marks 40 years of Spain’s NATO membership, Mr Stoltenberg also thanked the Prime Minister for Spain’s many contributions to Euro-Atlantic security. It was established at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949. The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has taken part in the event at the Teatro Real celebrating the 40th anniversary of Spain"s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). [2] Such an In 1982, Spain became a NATO member, but following the election victory of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), the new Government decided to suspend the process of integration into the military structure of the Alliance and called a referendum to decide whether Spain should remain within the organization. Apr 8, 2025 · Spain’s defence expenditure is the lowest among the 32 NATO members. 84% Badajoz 61. 1 Fue convocado el 31 de enero de 1986 por el gobierno del PSOE presidido por Felipe González. May 30, 2022 · On Monday (30 May 2022) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg took part in the solemn ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to NATO. Jun 22, 2025 · Spain has struck a deal with the NATO military alliance that would allow the country to avoid spending 5 percent of its GDP on defence spending, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday Jun 19, 2025 · Spain rejects NATO’s 5% defence spending hike as ‘counterproductive’ Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez warns the spending hike would undermine EU efforts to build its own security and defence base. Gonzalez suspended further Spanish involvement in NATO military operations, pending a national referendum on Spain's continued membership. Though the vote is non-binding, Mr. pressure for greater European defense funding. The present Socialist government in Spain came to office committed to holding a national referendum on the issue of Spain’s continued Jan 25, 2023 · Spain's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty was rather fraught. [1][2] YES NO Total 53. 09% 40. A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. Although the primary issue was Spain’s remaining in NATO the political climate prior to the referendum had turned it into an important test for the Gonzilez government, now reaching the end of its legislature as the first Leftist government of the Spanish monarchy. Jan 9, 2020 · Spain became the sixteenth member of NATO on 30 May 1982. - He could take advantage of the constitutional prohibition against holding a referendum 90 days before or after a regional Even in the more likely event that Gonzalez lost the referendum, he would probably still keep Spain in NATO by resorting to the tactic he could have used to avoid that vote in the first place-calling a snap election and asking for endorsement of his overall political program, including continued Alliance participation. 08% Almería 61. In February 1986, the Spanish Government announces that a referendum will be held on 12 March 1986 on Spain’s continued membership of NATO. The referendum has neither served to open a new space of democratic participation for Spanish society, nor will it serve to Slovenia is on the brink of a political earthquake as Prime Minister Robert Golob considers a shocking referendum on whether the country should stay in NATO. The spending will go toward Jun 26, 2025 · González had already promised a referendum on Nato membership, however. The referendum proposal rejected military integration, or any c ange in Spain s nonnuc ear s aus,_ an ca a for a ra uaT-reduction in tF-ie~ mil-star presence in Spain. ' Prime Minister Gonzalez appears intent on keeping a campaign pledge to hold a referendum-now promised by spring 1986-on Spanish membership in NATO. 61% Cantabria 59. These are consequential assertions because referendums on alliance membership are rare and would be a discrete, verifiable historical event. Gonzalez is also likely to push for at least a "cosmetic" reduction in the US military presence. 9% of valid votes in favour of remaining within NATO on a turnout of 59. The Long Wait for the Referendum From the time the Socialists first formed their government (November 1982) until the date of the promised referendum (March 1986) there was a Mar 13, 1986 · Public-opinion polls through last week indicated that voters, in the first such referendum by a NATO country, would ask that Spain become the first member to quit the alliance. THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO MAIN SPANISH POLITICAL PARTIES vis-8-vis the NATO referendum held on 12 March 1986 have caused commentators to recall that Spain, although much less so of late, always was ‘different’ and ‘dramatic’; Lord Carrington, on a boost-the-Atlantic-Alliance visit to Madrid, was reported to have gone one better and said that a country in which those in favour appeared On 30 May 1982, NATO gained a new member when the newly-democratic Spain joined the alliance, as was confirmed by referendum in 1986. Jan 23, 2025 · The politics of military spending Spain joined NATO in 1982, a year after the young, isolated democracy survived a coup attempt by its armed forces and seven years after the end of the 40-year military dictatorship led by Gen. Voters were asked whether they ratified the national Government's proposal for the country remaining a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it had joined in 1982. Sánchez said the government will raise defense spending by 10. [6] In their electoral campaign the Socialists had promised that they would put Spain’s integration into the military structure of NATO on ice and call a referendum so that the Spanish people could decide whether the country should remain part of the Atlantic Alliance. Dec 1, 1986 · 305 The Referendum of 12 March 1986 on Spain's Remaining in NATO JOSEP M. The call for a referendum became a critical issue during the 1982 electoral campaign, and it was held in 1986 under the new Socialist The referendum was won by those who advocated for Spain remaining in NATO by a thirteen-point difference, although the “No” vote won a majority in Catalonia, Navarra, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands. THE REFERENDUM AND ITS LONG-LASTING IMPLICATIONS Spanish entry into NATO was unilaterally decided by the Gov-ernment. Voters were asked whether they ratified the national Government ‘s proposal for the country remaining a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it had joined in 1982. Apr 27, 2007 · THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO MAIN SPANISH POLITICAL PARTIES vis-8-vis the NATO referendum held on 12 March 1986 have caused commentators to recall that Spain, although much less so of late, always was Jun 23, 2025 · NATO members agreed on Sunday to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by U. After the referendum he said publicly that Foreign Minister Fernandez-Ordonez would pursue this topic Jun 19, 2025 · Spain is pushing back against NATO’s proposal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, a move that puts the country at odds with most allies and directly challenges U. The Accession Treaty of Spain to the European Communities is a treaty for the accession of Spain to the European Economic Community —now the European Union — and was signed on June 12, 1985, in the Hall of Columns of the Royal Palace of Madrid to enter into effect on January 1, 1986. Read about Spain’s early years as the 16th member of the Alliance. 79% 34. Mar 18, 1986 · As far as the interests of the United States and the alliance are concerned, however, the outcome of the March 12 referendum is hardly cause for rejoicing as long as Spain remains outside the NATO Spain and NATO Did you know that it was a Spaniard who guided NATO through its first major peacekeeping operation? Find out what actually triggered Spain to join NATO in 1982 and why its accession was so important for the Alliance. Using nationally representative surveys, NATO tracks respondents’ opinions about the security environment as well as key metrics. 18% Cáceres 60. The political environment has been the framework in which Jul 9, 2024 · Bar chart showing Spain is estimated to spend 1. Jun 22, 2025 · Spain agreed with the NATO military alliance to be excluded from spending 5% of its gross domestic product on defence, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday. Jun 22, 2025 · Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he had sealed a deal with Nato allowing Spain to opt out from a requirement to increase its defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, the target demanded by US SPAIN: THE NATO REFERENDUM AND US-SPANISH MILITARY TIES Still, even after the referendum had been won, Spain remained a reluctant partner in Western security as the left, his party, and public opinion remained divided over NATO membership, a division that has conditioned Spain's situation in NATO until now. A constitutional crisis took place in Spain from 2017 to 2018 as the result of a political conflict between the Government of Spain and the Generalitat de Catalunya under the then- President Carles Puigdemont —the government of the autonomous community of Catalonia until 28 October 2017—over the issue of Catalan independence. The move follows uproar over NATO's SPAIN, NATO, AND WESTERN EUROPE A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. The materials supplied for analysis, however, contain no reporting May 30, 2022 · 30 May 2022. Contrary to its traditional opposition to NATO, the SociaIists now favoured retaining the military aIIiance. With only 19 per cent of Spaniards in favour of membership, it was no easy task for him to get a majority to reaffirm Spain’s membership in the referendum held in 1986. The future of Spain's security relations with the West has become more problematic since publication of SNIE 27. This is obvious, but in the case of Spain, this ideological process that makes NATO untouchable has affected even the party born out of the anti-NATO mobilizations of 1986 that I mentioned earlier: United Left. The President of the Government of Spain In order to fulf%l promises made during Spain's 1982 general election campaign, the Socialist government eventuaIIy held a referendum in 19% to decide the question of Spanish integration into NATO. party. 4%. [1][2] Feb 23, 2025 · 1986 NATO Referendum Building upon Spain’s successful integration into the European Economic Community (EEC), which formally occurred on January 1, 1986, and fulfilling promises made while in opposition, Felipe Gonzalez called a referendum on March 12, 1986, to ratify Spain’s continued membership in NATO. Jun 28, 2022 · Spain’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1982 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 demarcate with mathematical precision Spain’s 40 years of membership of Mar 28, 2014 · THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO MAIN SPANISH POLITICAL PARTIES vis-8-vis the NATO referendum held on 12 March 1986 have caused commentators to recall that Spain, although much less so of late, always was ‘different’ and ‘dramatic’; Lord Carrington, on a boost-the-Atlantic-Alliance visit to Madrid, was reported to have gone one better and said that a country in which those in favour appeared Oct 9, 2025 · The original statement asserts two linked facts: that Spain is among the few countries to hold a referendum on NATO membership, and that the referendum produced a 57–43 remain victory. The referendum resulted in 56. 3 days ago · NATO in 2025 The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an international military alliance consisting of 32 member states from Europe and North America. The consultative referendum on its continued membership of the Alliance, held in 1986, may have generated intense debate among the Spanish public but the result was a favourable majority. Jun 26, 2025 · Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is sticking by his decision to break with NATO allies this week from spending more on defense. Since no post-referendum surveys are available from which to estimate the referendum Russia’s military action in Ukraine has only strengthened NATO and further subordinated Europe to US interests. 91% 37. President Donald Trump, but Spain said it did not need to El referéndum sobre la permanencia de España en la OTAN fue un referéndum celebrado el miércoles 12 de marzo de 1986 en España, país que pertenecía a la OTAN desde el 30 de mayo de 1982. In a conversation with President Reagan, Gonzalez brought up the polemic ques-tion of NATO in the context of securing Spain's entrance into the EEC. Mar 12, 1986 · The referendum, the first of its kind in NATO's 36-year history, could lead to the first defection from the alliance. Mar 17, 1986 · The U. There was widespread discussion of Madrid joining since the late 1970s, and Adolfo Suarez's government had already declared it a priority. Data provided by Nato. 65 The date for the referendum had not been officially set, and Gonzalez wanted to reassure the United States that Spain would honor its limited commitment to the alliance until the result of the A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. Between 1994 and 1997, wider forums for regional cooperation between NATO and its 0–9 1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum 1997 Hungarian NATO membership referendum 1997 Slovak referendum 2003 Slovenian European Union and NATO membership referendum 2008 Georgian referendum 2018 Macedonian referendum 2025 Slovenian NATO membership referendum Categories: NATO relations Referendums by issue In February 1981, following a failed coup attempt, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo became Prime Minister and campaigned strongly for NATO membership, in part to improve civilian control over the military, and Spain's NATO membership was approved in May 1982. The referendum victory is a defeat for the left and wild reinforce the momentum of recent years towar increas anish security cooperation with the West. The ceremony took place in Madrid's Teatro Real, in the presence of His Majesty King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, together with former NATO Secretaries General and former Spanish Prime Ministers. A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. Pages in category "Referendums in Spain" The following 9 pages are in this category, out of 9 total. Upon taking office, Gonzalez reversed his anti-NATO position but was nonetheless obliged to go ahead with the referendum. Jun 19, 2025 · Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense needs that’s expected to be announced next week. However, the episode reflects wider unease across CEE, as rising military costs challenge domestic politics and expose diverging visions of NATO’s future. 83% Ciudad Real 62. 34% Barcelona 44. Jun 21, 2005 · Though the referendum stipulated that Spain’s armed forces will remain out side NATO’s military-command structure, as is the case with France, nervous European and American leaders were Spain did not join NATO by default, following in the wake of other countries, or as the result of a political decision taken by a government. Spain's significant geographical position, astride some of the world's major sea, air, and land communication routes, made it a valuable potential Jun 28, 2022 · Arriving in Madrid on Tuesday (28 June 2022), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for hosting the historic NATO Summit that is taking place from 28 to 30 June. Jul 21, 2025 · The Slovenian referendum cancellations should stabilise Golob’s coalition, ahead of national elections in 2026. 30% Álava/Araba 35. Oct 17, 2016 · @OxPolBlog Archive: Britain’s EU Referendum and Spain’s 1986 in-out NATO Referendum, by Marina Perez De Arcos. NATO issue into a vote on his government's overall program. [1] In the aftermath of World War II, following the formation of NATO in 1949 and throughout the Cold War, Finland maintained a position of neutrality, in what became known as Finlandization, in the face of its often complicated relations with the Soviet Union. 06% 25. 44% 34. 06% 31. Sweden became the latest country to join the Alliance on 7 March 2024. Mar 7, 2024 · NATO’s door remains open to any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership, and contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area. [19][20] A Spanish referendum in 1986 confirmed popular support for remaining in NATO. [1] The demonstration, organized by the pro-union group Societat Civil Catalana (SCC), was comprised of 350,000 demonstrators by police estimates, or one million by the organizers’ estimates. has had military bases in Spain since 1953. At the peak of the Cold War, 16 member nations maintained an approximate strength of 5,252,800 active military personnel, including as many as 435,000 forward-deployed US forces, under a command structure that SPAIN: THE NATO REFERENDUM AND US-SPANISH MILITARY TIES May 30, 2022 · During his speech, Sánchez stressed that Spain is today celebrating 40 years of alliance with a group of countries that share with ours the same idea of democracy, and societies that are governed on the basis of freedom, justice, equality and political pluralism. 91% 31. 39% Alicante/Alacant 62. The possibility of membership became a Dec 11, 2024 · By Claire Spangler On October 8, 2017, one week following the Catalonian independence referendum, pro-union demonstrators flooded the streets of Barcelona to protest Catalan separatism. The issue of NATO in Spain isn’t the only problem, but its procedure (the referendum), that divided Spanish society and that Felipe Gonzalez himself later declared a political error, resulted in an irreparable split in the Left. Dec 13, 2022 · A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. . The change in leadership and Calvo Sotello's rise significantly changed the debate, from A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. Under a 1986 referendum, a narrow majority of Spaniards voted to stay in the alliance, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the country that is now Europe Professes personal view that Spain should leave the Alliance, maintains Socialists will campaign against NATO prior to referendum, and chal- lenges cabinet members who feel differently to state their views publicly. Francisco Franco. It’s a welcome move, and a rare voice of dissent from Europe’s rush to remilitarize. Jun 26, 2025 · Discontent with Nato and the defence spending that membership entails is never far away in Spain, however. 2 Ganó el SÍ con el 56,85% de los votos válidos a favor de permanecer en la OTAN con una participación Apr 22, 2025 · MADRID (AP) — Spain will meet NATO’s defense spending target this year, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Tuesday, as pressure grows on the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy to boost its military expenditure. It is likely to be the last to join the organisation for many years. Jun 21, 2025 · Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has broken ranks with other NATO leaders as he refused to commit to spending 5 percent of GDP on defense. This list may not reflect recent changes. 36% Castellón/Castelló 55. 95% Albacete 61. Gonzalez has pledged to carry out the results. [1][2] The question asked was "The Government considers it convenient, for national interests, for Spain to remain Oct 9, 2025 · The original statement asserts two linked facts: that Spain is among the few countries to hold a referendum on NATO membership, and that the referendum produced a 57–43 remain victory. 28% Córdoba 58. Jun 23, 2025 · 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 Jun 27, 2025 · In 1986, a nationwide referendum conditionally affirmed Spain’s NATO membership on the understanding that no nuclear weapons would be stationed on Spanish territory and that Spain would maintain a reduced level of integration into NATO’s military structure. 99% SPAIN-NATO: COMING TO GRIPS WITH MEMBERSHIP Spaniards Vote to Remain in NATO - The Washington Post What was the political climate in Spain at the time of the nation's entrance into the NATO alliance and how has the climate changed since then? What is the Spanish government's perception of their nation's commitment to the rest of Europe and to the NATO countries in particular? What are the United States and the other The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the bilateral agreements with the United States have been subjects of significant importance in Spain. Of the 32 member countries, 30 are in Europe and two are in North America. Voters were asked whether they ratified the national Government 's proposal for the country remaining a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it had joined in 1982. Feb 5, 1986 · Spain joined the 16-member defense alliance in May 1982 but the Socialists, who campaigned in the general elections on a pledge to hold a referendum, froze steps toward integration into NATO's May 21, 2025 · NATO runs a programme of public opinion research in all countries across the Alliance to inform organisational decision-making, strategy and planning. This historic celebration comes a month before Spain hosts the next NATO Summit. 12% 31. 3% of GDP on defence in 2024, less than any other Nato member and well below the pledge of 2%. 36% 32. [1][2] Spain and nato Even though popular and official opinion had been virtually unanimous in favoring Spain's accession to the EC, considerable doubts were expressed with regard to Spanish membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Spain's recent entry into NATO was the latest of a series of events which culminated a profound social and political transformation. A Surrealistic Referendum: Spain and NATO THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO MAIN SPANISH POLITICAL PARTIES vis-à-vis the NATO referendum held on 12 March 1986 have caused commentators to recall that Spain, although much less so of late, always was 'different' and 'dramatic'; Lord Carrington, on a boost-the-Atlantic-Alliance visit to Madrid, was reported Mar 13, 1986 · Public-opinion polls through last week indicated that voters, in the first such referendum by a NATO country, would ask that Spain become the first member to quit the alliance. 95% Asturias/Asturies 54. At the same time, leaves open the possibility that he may change his position. Oct 9, 2025 · U. A. Currently, three partner countries have Spain's ties to NATO through participation in NATO He is likely to shrink from placing Spanish forces under a NATO commander. yq cvgam mnqomt hxj 7g 0vgsn hqeu xcxcc7f rwulaadu 47