27 May, 2026 @ 12:30
1 min read

Spain launches €35 billion military upgrade — its biggest rearmament drive in decades

MORE than 30 billion Spanish funds are being prioritised into military advancement, with the Minister of Defence securing the country’s dedication to security and peace. 

Spanish forces are gearing up for its biggest enhancement in years. 

Spain is launching a massive 11-year, €35 billion upgrade to modernise its military and armed forces. 

Rather than just buying weapons from other countries, the Spanish government plans to heavily invest in its own local businesses to build a self-reliant defence industry that will support the European Union. 

The budget will be spent on tanks, artillery, naval equipment, radars and digital communication systems. 

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Spanish Navy fleet Source: @Armadaesp Instagram

Between 2026 and 2037 Spain is setting aside over €30 billion for a whopping 31 military programs. 

Just this year alone, Spain will expend €10.1 billion on the most immediate needs of fuel, ammunition and daily operations of its forces.

Within its 2026 Annual Procurement Plan, there are expected to be nearly 8,000 contract proposals and over 150 framework agreements. 

There is some doubt over the lack of information provided since the Industrial and Technological Plan for Security and Defence of Spain was first announced last March, with a deadline of June 4th quickly approaching. 

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Geopolitical Conference of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Source: Official event’s Flickr page

However, Spain is still making announcements of their commitment to being a reliable armed force within the EU sphere. 

Spain’s Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, gave the opening speech at the Geopolitical Conference of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE) taking place this week from May 26 – 28. 

The Minister affirmed Spain’s stance as a ‘reliable benchmark’ to guarantee ‘a commitment to peace and security in the world.’ 

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Spanish Minister of Defence Margarita Robles

‘Spain remains a serious, reliable, and committed partner,’ Robles stated. 

The Defence Ministry’s most recent press release highlighted that Spain will continue to assist with NATO, UN, and EU measures relating to maritime or air security, as well as disaster responses and humanitarian crises. 

Attendees of the second IEEE conference held in Segovia.

An expectation of 80 experts including ambassadors, professors, university lecturers and military analysts are set to be in attendance at the event being held at the Royal Site of San Ildefonso in Segovia.

Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.

Karissa is a US expat from Florida who joins The Olive Press after moving abroad in 2019 to study international journalism in Stockholm. With over four years of professional writing experience across editorial, travel, legal, and comedy, she’s drawn to stories that matter — and the adventures that come with them. Now based in Nueva Andalucía, she covers Costa del Sol and wider Andalucía region. Reach her at karissa@theolivepress.es

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