The Minister of Foreign Affairs, assured this Monday in an interview in Spanish Television that Spain will maintain its position in the face of the escalation in the Middle East: it condemns the violence of the Iranian regime, but rejects that the response involves unilateral military action outside the international framework such as that carried out by the United States and Israel.
“Spain is going to maintain its position. We condemn the , we have supported human and women’s rights, but the option of Israel It has no place in the Charter of the United Nations. Democracy does not come from violence“, he assured.
The minister has also stressed that “completely unjustified attacks by Iran“and confirmed that the Government rejects the launch of a missile against Cyprus, while insisting that “we are not going to resign ourselves to violence being the way of relating in the Middle East.”
Albares has also warned that the international community is facing “a military escalation with unforeseeable consequences” and has defended that the priority must be de-escalation. “We have to help dialogue and negotiation“, he stated, ensuring that he transferred this position to the European Union. “We cannot do it alone,” he stated.
The Spanish bases, out of operation
The Foreign Minister wanted to clear up doubts about the role of Spain and, specifically, its bases, in the unilateral action carried out by the Americans and Israelis. “The Spanish bases are not going to be used for anything that is not within the agreement. The bases are not being used for this military operation. The Government of Spain is not going to use the bases for what is happening these days in Iran,” he stated emphatically.
Albares has also stressed that Spain “has the final say on the use of these bases” and has described the ongoing offensive as “a unilateral action outside of any collective action.” In his opinion, the greatest risk lies in uncertainty: “Nobody knows how this will continue or how this will end.nor the consequences that they can achieve”.
30,000 Spaniards in the region
The minister has detailed that around 30,000 Spaniards are currently in the Middle East, in a context in which a large part of the airspace is closed and commercial flights do not operate. As explained, All of them are fine and there are no injuries or deaths.although he acknowledged that “the anxiety is great.”
The Executive’s recommendation is that citizens remain in contact with embassies and consulates. “As soon as possible we are going to do everything necessary for them to return,” he said.
Juan Carlos I, like any citizen
Asked about the situation in the United Arab Emirates, where King Emeritus Juan Carlos I resides, Albares was clear: “The situation in the Emirates is what it is, where Juan Carlos is located. Any Spaniard, including the emeritus, has full disposal of the embassies to be able to return“.
