Albares defends Spain's "effort" to achieve 2% defense spending before Rubio.

WashingtonSpanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares positively assessed Thursday's meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom he discussed state defense spending within the framework of NATO, the war in Ukraine, and trade relations. This is the first in-person meeting between Albares and his US counterpart since Donald Trump became president. Before the trip to Washington, the Spanish minister had only spoken once by phone with Rubio and had met occasionally in the context of international summits.

"I highlighted the strength of our bilateral relationship, both from a trade and investment perspective, the import of liquefied natural gas, and the role of the two joint bases, Rota and Morón, in Euro-Atlantic security," Albares told the press at the end of the meeting. The minister also conveyed to his counterpart the importance of "a fair and lasting peace" in Ukraine and the goal that the warring country "may one day have a future within the European Union." "Ukrainian security is intimately and closely linked to European security," he asserted.

Albares' visit comes a month before the NATO summit in The Hague, where defense spending will be discussed again and the allies are expected to agree to raise it to 5% of GDP. Spain is at the bottom of the NATO member countries in defense. Last year, it ended with 1.40% of military spending—above the planned 1.28%—but still far from the 2% that Trump has been demanding of the allies. Even so, the Spanish government estimates that with the plan announced by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, Spain will reach the 2% target by the end of 2025. Given the expectation that NATO will now want to raise the base to 5%, Defense Minister Margarita Robles already rejected the idea on Tuesday: "Now is not the time to talk about new percentages."

Minister Albares explained that they spoke with Rubio about next month's summit and emphasized to the Secretary of State "the effort Spain has made to reach this 2% spending." Regarding the 5% goal, Albares acknowledged that there has been an "exchange, and each party has expressed their views very clearly." "I have insisted that it has been an enormous effort to reach this 2% goal and that the debate, at this time, should focus on capabilities, and the United States' position is well known," he explained.

Increased defense spending is an issue on which the United States has placed special emphasis. When Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo visited Washington last April to discuss tariffs with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the US side concluded the meeting with a brief, concise message. In a statement from the Office of Public Affairs, Bessent emphasized "the need for greater defense spending by Spain within the context of NATO."

Albares met with Rubio at a time of heightened tension between the European Union and Israel, just hours after two members of the Israeli embassy were shot dead in Washington early Thursday morning. The Foreign Minister condemned the deaths of both Israeli embassy staff. "My condolences and total condemnation of this anti-Semitic act," he said.

After the Israeli army attacked diplomats from several countries, including a Spanish diplomat, Albares ruled out recalling the Israeli ambassador. However, he emphasized that the Israeli embassy's chargé d'affaires had been summoned this morning. "We have conveyed to him our condemnation and our outright rejection of the Israeli army's shootings against diplomats from several countries, including a Spanish diplomat," the minister said. He also reiterated his "absolute rejection" of Tel Aviv's military offensive against Gaza, as well as Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid. "We will discuss all of this next Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid, where the Arab group countries will be present, as well as many EU countries, as well as non-EU Europeans and other countries, and we all have the same objective: to break the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and stop this military offensive," he explained.

On Tuesday, the EU announced that will review the association agreement with Israel and investigate whether it is complying with human rights, as established in the pact the 27 have with the Hebrew state. The decision came after pressure from member states—including Spain—to change its tone toward Israel following the intensification of bombings, the expansion of the occupation of the Gaza Strip, and the blockade of humanitarian aid.