Latest news with #ElcanoRoyalInstitute
Morocco World
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
55% of Survey Respondents View Morocco as External Threat to Spain
Rabat – A new survey by Spain's Elcano Royal Institute shows that 55% of Spanish people view Morocco as a main external threat to their country. The number marks a six-point increase from a similar survey that the institute carried out last year. Conducted between May 19-29 this year, the survey featured responses from 1,000 participants. The findings ranked Morocco higher than Russia in terms of how much the North African country is perceived as a threat among Spaniards. Russia comes next with 33% of votes and the US with 19% – the latter marking a surge from 5% in 2024. According to the survey, the perception of Morocco as an external threat is stronger among right-wing respondents. Over 60% of the respondents, meanwhile, see Spain as safe from immediate threat from other countries, while 40% of others disagree. The perception of Morocco as a threat is fueled by different factors, including narratives in the Spanish media, which closely monitor the country's development across multiple sectors, particularly the military. In November, Spanish media were concerned about US President Donald Trump's re-election as well as the strengthened ties between Rabat and Washington, with local analysts warning of the potential implications for Spain's interests and influence in the Mediterranean. Spanish newspaper El Confidencial quoted Jose Antonio Gurpegui claiming that the strong ties between Morocco and the US will influence any future disputes between Rabat and Madrid. A few months ago, Spanish media also warned of growing threats to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Several publications expressed alarm over potential shifts in the enclaves' status under Donald Trump's second US presidency. 'In the realm of security, there is concern that Trump could make an announcement about Ceuta and Melilla similar to what he did about Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara,' El Español reported in an analysis published in February. Spanish media outlets are also concerned about Morocco's robust and growing military, viewing it as a threat rather than a sovereign strategic choice. El Independiente claimed in March that Morocco's advancement in aviation 'poses a challenge to neighboring armies, including Spain,' adding that 'the Spanish case is particularly striking,' Spanish media are also alarmed by Morocco's infrastructure and economic development, with many reports highlighting the country's performance in terms of port activities, among others. Notably, Spanish media are concerned about the good performance that Morocco's Tangier Med Port has been achieving in the past years, drawing comparisons between the Moroccan hub and Algeciras and other central Spanish ports. Tags: Spain and MoroccoSpain and Morocco relations
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spain pushes back against mooted 5% NATO spending goal
Spain is resisting US President Donald Trump's demands to hike defence spending to five percent of national output, potentially threatening NATO unity at a crucial alliance summit this month. The European country ended 2024 as the NATO member that dedicated the smallest proportion of its annual economic output to defence, falling short of the two percent target set in 2014. Faced with Trump's threats to withdraw US security guarantees from member states perceived as not pulling their weight, Spain has announced fresh spending to hit the two percent mark this year. But Madrid is baulking at suggestions the target should rise to five percent as an aggressive Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine has stretched into a fourth year, menaces Europe. With Germany and Poland already backing the new benchmark, Spain could find itself isolated among its allies at the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague. "Many countries want five (percent), we respect that... but Spain will fulfil those objectives set for us," Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO counterparts in Brussels this month. "What is really important is that Spain will meet the capacities and objectives" assigned by NATO and "we cannot set ourselves a percentage", she said. For Felix Arteaga, a defence specialist at Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute, "internal political reasons" are determining the stance of the minority left-wing coalition government. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces a balancing act of aligning with NATO allies and cajoling his far-left junior coalition partner Sumar, which is hostile to increasing military spending. He has not submitted to parliament the plans for new defence spending of more than 10 billion euros, sparking criticism from his parliamentary allies whose support is crucial for the government's viability. The fragile coalition has wobbled in the past week after a corruption scandal implicating one of Sanchez's inner circle sparked a crisis within his Socialist party. - 'Cultural' barriers - In Spain, "high political fragmentation makes it difficult to reach deals similar to those of other countries" such as Germany, said Santiago Calvo, an economics professor at the Universidad de las Hesperides. Calvo also pointed to "delicate" public finances, with Spain's debt one of the highest in the European Union at 103.5 percent of gross domestic product. That figure has nonetheless receded in recent years, and continued strong economic performance should give the government "margin" to spend more, said Arteaga, who instead identified "cultural" hindrances. The Iberian Peninsula's greater distance from Russia than eastern European countries like Poland "reduces concern and urgency... we do not feel threatened, we do not want to enter armed conflicts", Arteaga said. "The government must explain to Spanish citizens the need to show solidarity" with countries in northern and eastern Europe, he said. Ambiguity also surrounds the idea of investing five percent of GDP in defence. NATO chief Mark Rutte has mentioned 3.5 percent of military spending in the traditional definition of the term by 2032, with the remaining 1.5 percent going to security in a broader sense, including border protection and cybersecurity. At the NATO summit, "everything will come down to details" such as the flexibility of the definition of defence spending and the timeframe to achieve it, Arteaga predicted. Robles said "Spain will not veto anything" at the summit, calling her country "a constructive ally". vab/imm/mdm/js
Local Spain
18-06-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
Why Spain is against Trump's 5% Nato spending demands
The European country ended 2024 as the Nato member that dedicated the smallest proportion of its annual economic output to defence, falling short of the two percent target set in 2014. Faced with Trump's threats to withdraw US security guarantees from member states perceived as not pulling their weight, Spain has announced fresh spending to hit the two percent mark this year. But Madrid is baulking at suggestions the target should rise to five percent as an aggressive Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine has stretched into a fourth year, menaces Europe. With Germany and Poland already backing the new benchmark, Spain could find itself isolated among its allies at the June 24-25 Nato summit in The Hague. "Many countries want five (percent), we respect that... but Spain will fulfil those objectives set for us," Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on the sidelines of a meeting of Nato counterparts in Brussels this month. "What is really important is that Spain will meet the capacities and objectives" assigned by Nato and "we cannot set ourselves a percentage", she said. For Félix Arteaga, a defence specialist at Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute, "internal political reasons" are determining the stance of the minority left-wing coalition government. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces a balancing act of aligning with Nato allies and cajoling his far-left junior coalition partner Sumar, which is hostile to increasing military spending. He has not submitted to parliament the plans for new defence spending of more than €10 billion, sparking criticism from his parliamentary allies whose support is crucial for the government's viability. The fragile coalition has wobbled in the past week after a corruption scandal implicating one of Sánchez's inner circle sparked a crisis within his Socialist party. 'Cultural barriers' In Spain, "high political fragmentation makes it difficult to reach deals similar to those of other countries" such as Germany, said Santiago Calvo, an economics professor at the Universidad de las Hesperides. Calvo also pointed to "delicate" public finances, with Spain's debt one of the highest in the European Union at 103.5 percent of gross domestic product. That figure has nonetheless receded in recent years, and continued strong economic performance should give the government "margin" to spend more, said Arteaga, who instead identified "cultural" hindrances. The Iberian Peninsula's greater distance from Russia than eastern European countries like Poland "reduces concern and urgency... we do not feel threatened, we do not want to enter armed conflicts", Arteaga said. "The government must explain to Spanish citizens the need to show solidarity" with countries in northern and eastern Europe, he said. Ambiguity also surrounds the idea of investing five percent of GDP in defence. Nato chief Mark Rutte has mentioned 3.5 percent of military spending in the traditional definition of the term by 2032, with the remaining 1.5 percent going to security in a broader sense, including border protection and cybersecurity. At the Nato summit, "everything will come down to details" such as the flexibility of the definition of defence spending and the timeframe to achieve it, Arteaga predicted. Robles said "Spain will not veto anything" at the summit, calling her country "a constructive ally".
Int'l Business Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Spain Pushes Back Against Mooted 5% NATO Spending Goal
Spain is resisting US President Donald Trump's demands to hike defence spending to five percent of national output, potentially threatening NATO unity at a crucial alliance summit this month. The European country ended 2024 as the NATO member that dedicated the smallest proportion of its annual economic output to defence, falling short of the two percent target set in 2014. Faced with Trump's threats to withdraw US security guarantees from member states perceived as not pulling their weight, Spain has announced fresh spending to hit the two percent mark this year. But Madrid is baulking at suggestions the target should rise to five percent as an aggressive Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine has stretched into a fourth year, menaces Europe. With Germany and Poland already backing the new benchmark, Spain could find itself isolated among its allies at the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague. "Many countries want five (percent), we respect that... but Spain will fulfil those objectives set for us," Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO counterparts in Brussels this month. "What is really important is that Spain will meet the capacities and objectives" assigned by NATO and "we cannot set ourselves a percentage", she said. For Felix Arteaga, a defence specialist at Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute, "internal political reasons" are determining the stance of the minority left-wing coalition government. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces a balancing act of aligning with NATO allies and cajoling his far-left junior coalition partner Sumar, which is hostile to increasing military spending. He has not submitted to parliament the plans for new defence spending of more than 10 billion euros, sparking criticism from his parliamentary allies whose support is crucial for the government's viability. The fragile coalition has wobbled in the past week after a corruption scandal implicating one of Sanchez's inner circle sparked a crisis within his Socialist party. In Spain, "high political fragmentation makes it difficult to reach deals similar to those of other countries" such as Germany, said Santiago Calvo, an economics professor at the Universidad de las Hesperides. Calvo also pointed to "delicate" public finances, with Spain's debt one of the highest in the European Union at 103.5 percent of gross domestic product. That figure has nonetheless receded in recent years, and continued strong economic performance should give the government "margin" to spend more, said Arteaga, who instead identified "cultural" hindrances. The Iberian Peninsula's greater distance from Russia than eastern European countries like Poland "reduces concern and urgency... we do not feel threatened, we do not want to enter armed conflicts", Arteaga said. "The government must explain to Spanish citizens the need to show solidarity" with countries in northern and eastern Europe, he said. Ambiguity also surrounds the idea of investing five percent of GDP in defence. NATO chief Mark Rutte has mentioned 3.5 percent of military spending in the traditional definition of the term by 2032, with the remaining 1.5 percent going to security in a broader sense, including border protection and cybersecurity. At the NATO summit, "everything will come down to details" such as the flexibility of the definition of defence spending and the timeframe to achieve it, Arteaga predicted. Robles said "Spain will not veto anything" at the summit, calling her country "a constructive ally".
France 24
18-06-2025
- Business
- France 24
Spain pushes back against mooted 5% NATO spending goal
The European country ended 2024 as the NATO member that dedicated the smallest proportion of its annual economic output to defence, falling short of the two percent target set in 2014. Faced with Trump's threats to withdraw US security guarantees from member states perceived as not pulling their weight, Spain has announced fresh spending to hit the two percent mark this year. But Madrid is baulking at suggestions the target should rise to five percent as an aggressive Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine has stretched into a fourth year, menaces Europe. With Germany and Poland already backing the new benchmark, Spain could find itself isolated among its allies at the June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague. "Many countries want five (percent), we respect that... but Spain will fulfil those objectives set for us," Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO counterparts in Brussels this month. "What is really important is that Spain will meet the capacities and objectives" assigned by NATO and "we cannot set ourselves a percentage", she said. For Felix Arteaga, a defence specialist at Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute, "internal political reasons" are determining the stance of the minority left-wing coalition government. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces a balancing act of aligning with NATO allies and cajoling his far-left junior coalition partner Sumar, which is hostile to increasing military spending. He has not submitted to parliament the plans for new defence spending of more than 10 billion euros, sparking criticism from his parliamentary allies whose support is crucial for the government's viability. The fragile coalition has wobbled in the past week after a corruption scandal implicating one of Sanchez's inner circle sparked a crisis within his Socialist party. 'Cultural' barriers In Spain, "high political fragmentation makes it difficult to reach deals similar to those of other countries" such as Germany, said Santiago Calvo, an economics professor at the Universidad de las Hesperides. Calvo also pointed to "delicate" public finances, with Spain's debt one of the highest in the European Union at 103.5 percent of gross domestic product. That figure has nonetheless receded in recent years, and continued strong economic performance should give the government "margin" to spend more, said Arteaga, who instead identified "cultural" hindrances. The Iberian Peninsula's greater distance from Russia than eastern European countries like Poland "reduces concern and urgency... we do not feel threatened, we do not want to enter armed conflicts", Arteaga said. "The government must explain to Spanish citizens the need to show solidarity" with countries in northern and eastern Europe, he said. Ambiguity also surrounds the idea of investing five percent of GDP in defence. NATO chief Mark Rutte has mentioned 3.5 percent of military spending in the traditional definition of the term by 2032, with the remaining 1.5 percent going to security in a broader sense, including border protection and cybersecurity. At the NATO summit, "everything will come down to details" such as the flexibility of the definition of defence spending and the timeframe to achieve it, Arteaga predicted. Robles said "Spain will not veto anything" at the summit, calling her country "a constructive ally".
