Latest news with #MargaritaRobles
Euractiv
08-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
Spain's arms embargo on Israel hits enemy lines at home
MADRID – Spain's vow to cut arms ties with Israel faces major hurdles, as deep military dependencies and political realities complicate last year's announced embargo. "Spain does not buy arms from Israel," Defence Minister Margarita Robles told journalists ahead of an EU foreign ministers' summit in May. Her comments align with the government's official line from February 2024, when the foreign ministry said it had halted arms exports to Israel following the Hamas attack on 7 October. However, subsequent statements from officials have introduced confusion, with some doubting whether the suspension may also apply to imports. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a vocal critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinian statehood, has also called on countries to halt their arms dealings with Israel. But Robles drew a key distinction: purchasing weapons is not the same as licensing Israeli military technology – which Spain continues to do. This nuance lies at the heart of Spain's rocky path toward a full military embargo. Lawmakers now speak of a 'technological disconnection,' acknowledging ongoing reliance on Israeli systems. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has even suggested Madrid may ultimately 'settle' for a partial embargo. Political pledge meets industrial reality Despite Spain's public commitment to an embargo, sources within the defence ministry admit a full break would be 'highly difficult', as key parts of the country's military infrastructure still rely on Israeli systems. Frequently, Spanish firms license Israeli designs to manufacture domestically. Though a clean break from deeply embedded Israeli technology would seem difficult, the government is reportedly seeking alternatives to existing contracts with Israeli-linked firms. These include Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles, produced under licence by PAP Tecnos, a subsidiary to Israeli company Rafael, and SILAM artillery rocket launchers involving Spanish companies EM&E and Rheinmetall Expal, alongside Israeli firm Elbit Systems. The data doesn't lie Beyond technology, official trade data indicates that Spain continues to buy weapons from Israel, contradicting its stated embargo. According to government data, Spain's imports from Israel under TARIC code 93 (arms and ammunition) reached €7 million in 2024 and €10.2 million in 2025. For 2025, imports worth €6.8 million fell under the 9306901000 subcategory (bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles, and similar munitions of war and parts thereof), and €3.4 million under code 93069010 (war weaponry and ammunition). Most of these imports are marked as 'strategic projects' by the defence ministry, with details kept confidential under Spanish law. The ministry and the directorate general for armaments and equipment, responsible for the acquisition and management of state armament, did not respond to Euractiv's requests for comment. Building domestic capability: a long road ahead Robles told lawmakers the government is reviewing Israeli import licences and plans to cancel those "that do not provide strategic technology to our armed forces". If needed, she said, the ministry could 'exceptionally' source from third countries. Robles maintains that Spanish manufacturers can handle the transition away from Israeli military technology, saying 'programmes can be done here in Spain.' But Carlos Martí, defence expert at the Institute General Gutiérrez Mellado, said many of the government's changes have been superficial and predicted that trade ties with Israel will 'most likely stay largely the same." He warned that rebuilding industrial capacity, including new supply chains, specialised equipment and engineering talent, would be extremely difficult in the short term. "We are talking about years-long manufacturing processes," he said. Spain's top defence firm, Indra, currently lacks both the technology and the Israeli-made components needed to replace existing systems, Martí explained, adding that cost and time savings are key reasons for Spain's dependence on Israeli materials. "The government's narrative that we cut ties with Israel and therefore developed this technology ourselves is a lie," he added. According to Martí, Spain could either source Israeli parts indirectly through countries like Italy or Turkey, or continue manufacturing domestically under the "technological disconnection" narrative and manufacture locally and continue to covertly acquire Israeli licences. Though deep industrial ties and economic interests complicate Madrid's path toward disengagement from Israel's defence sector, the mask is beginning to slip: Sánchez now faces mounting pressure – from within his coalition, from Congress, which recently backed a non-binding motion calling for a halt on exports and imports, and amid domestic corruption scandals – to back rhetoric with action and enforce a full embargo. (de)
Russia Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
NATO's 5% spending demand ‘absolutely impossible'
NATO member Spain has roundly rejected demands by US President Donald Trump and military bloc chief Mark Rutte to increase its spending on militarisation to 5% of the country's GDP. European members of the NATO are not capable of meeting the US demand, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles insisted to Spanish lawmakers on Friday, dismissing the 5% target declared by Rutte at last week's bloc summit as 'absolutely impossible' to achieve. 'Everyone is absolutely convinced that right now there is no industry capable of absorbing 5%,' she told the country's Senate Defense Commission. 'We can say whatever we want, we can dress it up or disguise it, but no industry can take it on.' Madrid pushed back against the target ahead of the summit in the Netherlands, proposing a more modest 2.1% spending level. Last year, Spain stood out as the NATO member dedicating the least percentage of its GDP (1.28%) to the military, compared to 4.12% in the case of Poland. Robles, however, claimed the comparison is misleading. According to Robles, European defense companies lack both the skilled workforce and access to raw materials needed to scale up production – even if governments managed to provide the necessary funding. Other NATO members privately acknowledge the same concerns and are stalling for time, she claimed. Spain is 'a serious, reliable, committed, and responsible ally, who speaks less and does more,' Robles told an event at Madrid's Higher Center for Defense Studies. The national defense industry 'does not need lessons from anyone,' she declared, suggesting Trump 'should have used his influence to end the war in Ukraine' instead of pressuring Spain to boost military spending. Trump claimed during his presidential campaign last year that he could end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine 'in 24 hours.' Since taking office, however, he has acknowledged the situation is more complicated than he initially believed. Moscow views NATO's intention to grant membership to Ukraine as an existential threat and characterizes the ongoing conflict as a proxy war waged by the bloc 'to the last Ukrainian.'
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Spain's commitment to Nato ‘total', says defence minister, after PM seeks exemption
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said her country was "a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally". PHOTO: AFP Spain's commitment to Nato 'total', says defence minister, after PM seeks exemption MADRID - Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on June 20 her country is totally committed to Nato, a day after Madrid asked the alliance to be exempted from the proposed increase in the defence spending target to 5 per cent of gross domestic product. 'Spain and its armed forces are a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally that is absolutely committed to the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance,' Ms Robles said in Madrid. 'No one can call it into question.' Her comments came following a letter by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Nato chief Mark Rutte on June 19 that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the 5 per cent target. In his letter, Mr Sanchez requested a 'more flexible formula' that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. At an estimated 1.28 per cent of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance in 2024, according to Nato estimates. Mr Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet Nato's current target of 2 per cent this year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Spain's commitment to NATO 'total', defence minister says
MADRID - Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Friday her country is totally committed to NATO, a day after Madrid asked the alliance to be exempted from the proposed increase in the defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product. "Spain and its armed forces are a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally that is absolutely committed to the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance," Robles said in Madrid. "No one can call it into question." Her comments came following a letter by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the 5% target. In his letter, Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2% this year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Spain's commitment to NATO 'total', defence minister says
MADRID, June 20 (Reuters) - Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Friday her country is totally committed to NATO, a day after Madrid asked the alliance to be exempted from the proposed increase in the defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product. "Spain and its armed forces are a serious, trustworthy, responsible ally that is absolutely committed to the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance," Robles said in Madrid. "No one can call it into question." Her comments came following a letter by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday that could derail a summit at which the military alliance plans to ask them to commit to the 5% target. In his letter, Sanchez requested a "more flexible formula" that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2% this year.
