The Spanish Government has committed to increase Defense spending to 2% of GDP this year, a commitment made by all NATO members in Wales in 2014. It was supposed to be achieved in 2024, but our country ranked last among all allies, far from that target. Two years ago, Pedro Sánchez said the goal would be reached in 2029, but after Trump's return and the threat that the US may abandon its partners, he has guaranteed an acceleration. However, the new threshold has already been raised to at least 3%, up to 5% according to the White House. This is what Secretary of State Marco Rubio told José Manuel Albares in Washington on Thursday.
"We discussed the NATO summit, spending, I highlighted the effort that Spain has made to reach that 2% spending and also the effort that Spain is making with the security of the Eastern flank with a deployment that is the largest in its history, with 2300 soldiers, who are currently ensuring the security of all Europeans (...) There has been an exchange, and each has expressed their views very clearly. I have emphasized that reaching that 2% has been a huge effort and that the debate at this moment should focus on capabilities, and the position of the United States is also known." This is how the Foreign Minister explained it minutes after meeting with Secretary of State Rubio, in their first bilateral meeting since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
"I met with Minister Albares to discuss defense spending, combating illegal immigration, and promoting fair trade. I urged Spain to join the Allies and allocate 5% of its GDP to Defense," summarized the American in a message on the X social network.
"The Secretary met today with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs. Rubio acknowledged and thanked Spain for fulfilling its previous commitment to increase defense spending to 2% by 2025, but emphasized that more must be done. Additionally, the Secretary acknowledged Spain's strong cooperation in combating illegal immigration. Both leaders agreed on the urgency of ending conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East," added the statement released by the State Department.
Both politicians discussed Europe, Africa, tariffs, Ukraine, bilateral relations, and the Middle East, where their positions could not be more different. When asked if Spain is considering withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, or at least summoning her for consultations, as Minister Ernest Urtasun requested today, the Foreign Minister stated that it is not currently being considered, and that the measure taken today was to summon Israel's chargé d'affaires in our country to demand explanations for the incident that occurred the day before in Cisjordan, when the Israeli army fired shots in the air to expel a delegation of diplomats from more than a dozen European countries.
"No, it is not something that we are currently considering. What must be clear is our absolute rejection, our firm condemnation of the military offensive currently taking place in Gaza. There is no military objective at this moment, within that military offensive, that justifies it. Everything we see is beyond unbearable, and we all have to do something. I said it the other day at the table in Brussels. We all have to do everything in our power to stop this senseless war that has no meaning. 60,000 dead Palestinians are more than enough, and we have to do everything within our power to break the blockade, so that humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza population (...) the time for words is over, it is time for actions," he insisted after meeting with Rubio.
Today's visit was a whirlwind trip. Albares arrived in the capital early Wednesday. He had an event at a think tank in the morning that he did not make it to on time, and he held a series of meetings with congressmen and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman. The main event was the face-to-face meeting. They had already met in Brussels, at the NATO ministerial meetings. And they had spoken on the phone a few weeks ago. But the feeling was that the administration was not very interested in relations with Spain. The ideological differences are significant, the positions on Israel as well, and Moncloa has been very critical of Trump, both domestically and in international forums like the Davos Summit.
Europe is not a priority in Washington, and the EU is no longer considered a significant ally. In fact, Rubio stood up the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, at the last minute, after she had crossed the Atlantic to meet in person, a deliberate snub while he met with diplomats and politicians from dozens of small countries from all continents.
Upon arriving at the State Department, they greeted each other in front of the cameras, but Rubio only briefly responded to a question about the murder of two embassy workers the night before. When asked to what extent the US position on Israel could influence the government's decisions, such as not recalling the ambassador to Tel Aviv, Minister Albares ruled out any pressure, interference, or influence.
"There have been no specific requests from either of us, in the conversation it was clear that we are two natural, historical allies with many decades of joint work with very solid interests of all kinds, economic, commercial, investment, cultural, linguistic, and that we are fundamental European and American allies, both for our security and our prosperity. Therefore, there have been no specific requests from anyone, not even from me. It has been more of an exchange," he indicated. "We have agreed on many points, and on other points we have discussed (...) We would not have accepted [interference] Spain has a foreign policy with its own sovereign identity. And I, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, make decisions that I consider at each moment to be the best for Spain's interests. The urgency yesterday was to summon, as has happened today at 10, the chargé d'affaires to convey that we expect a transparent investigation and accountability for an act," the minister concluded. "The time for words, requests, and statements is over. It is time for actions, and we are considering all options."