Spain was indeed a strategic link with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and with Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. Spain was also committed to the principles and values of the Washington Treaty. It was a natural candidate for NATO membership and NATO was a natural continuation of its foreign policy.

Mark Rutte (Dutch: [ˈmɑr(ə)k ˈrʏtə]; born 14 February 1967) is a Dutch politician who has served as the 14th secretary general of NATO since October 2024. He previously served as prime minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024 and leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 2006 to 2023.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General: And I think it's also fair, because it means that Europe and Canada will basically move to the same level of spending as the U.S. is doing currently.