The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has defended before the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the “Huge effort “Spain has made to reach 2% of GDP in spending in defense At a time when the United States is already committed to reaching 5%, insisting that NATO has to do it is to “focus on capabilities.”
Albares Ha, which has passed in “a very cordial tone” and interspersing Spanish and English since the Secretary of State is of Cuban origin, and in which the next NATO summit in The Hague has been one of the points addressed.
As the minister has subsequently explained in press statements at the Spanish embassy, he has taken the opportunity to put “in value the effort that Spain makes to reach that 2% of the expense and the effort that Spain makes with the security of the this “, with the deployment of 2,300 soldiers, the largest in its history and that help guarantee the safety of all Europeans.
Albares has recognized that on this matter “There has been an exchange“And the two have expressed with” very clearly “their respective points of view. Donald Trump’s administration has made it clear that his goal is that a commitment to reach 5% in defense spending comes out of the alliance summit.
“I have insisted that he has been a huge effort to achieve that 2% And that the debate is currently to focus on capabilities, “he added, in line with what the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, who considered an” error “set percentages before talking about the capabilities needed to guarantee European security already transferred on Tuesday.
The minister has assured that “There have been no concrete requests“For either part.” It has been more an exchange in which we have coincided in many points and in others we have exposed our views, “he said.
Among the topics discussed, the tariffs that the new administration wants to impose on the EU has also appeared, although Albares has recalled that commercial competitions have Brussels, which is the one who is currently negotiating with Washington.
“Very cordial tone”
They have also spoken both of the conflict in Ukraine and the War in Gaza. Regarding the first issue, the minister has insisted on “the importance of achieving a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine”, while he has also insisted on the need for peace in the Middle East and that Israel ends the blockade on the Gaza Strip and can enter humanitarian aid.
In this sense, Albares has made clear the Government’s commitment to “work around the Palestinian National Authority so that one day he can take care of both Gaza and the West Bank.”
Finally, he has indicated, They have also addressed the situation in Latin America. In line with this matter, Albares has transferred to Rubio the will of Spain to participate in “any celebration around the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, where of course Spain and the Spaniards also had a fundamental role,” he said.
In summary, Albares said, the meeting has shown that “we are two natural, historical allies, with many decades of joint work, with interests of all kinds, very solid, economic, commercial, investment, cultural, linguistic, linguistic”, and that they are “fundamental allies” for both the security and prosperity of Europe and North America.
“It has been a good meeting, in a very cordial tone and I believe that this meeting serves to reinforce those ties between our two countries,” he had settled.
