Spain and Portugal advance major defense and naval spending

Spain and Portugal are advancing significant military investments and maintenance programs. The Spanish Council of Ministers has authorized an open-ended execution order estimated at 80 million euros to maintain surface vessels and Galerna-class submarines. Supported by the Arsenal de Cartagena, this funding aims to manage equipment obsolescence and ensure operational availability through 2029.

In Portugal, the government has approved a loan agreement with the European Commission for up to 5.84 billion euros to finance defense investments through 2030. Utilizing the SAFE (Action for European Security) instrument, the funds will support various acquisitions, most notably the procurement of three new-generation frigates from Italy. This naval program, costing approximately 3.91 billion euros, accounts for roughly 67% of the total loan and includes maintenance, armament, and technology transfers.