Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faced failures in his bid to break the EU-Israel Association Agreement and saw Pentagon frustration revealed over Spain's NATO stance. Diplomatic sources doubt his energy crisis proposals. Spain defends its role as a reliable ally, having increased defense spending.
Pedro Sánchez left Barcelona last Saturday as a socialist leader, but a week later faced setbacks. On Tuesday in Luxembourg, his joint proposal with Ireland and Slovenia to break the EU-Israel Association Agreement failed due to lack of unanimity. Germany and Italy opposed it, and High Representative Kaja Kallas advocated other options.
At the European Council in Nicosia, Sánchez insisted on Thursday without success. On Friday, Reuters reported a Pentagon internal email considering expelling Spain from NATO for denying US access, basing, and overflight rights (ABO) in the Iran war. Sánchez downplayed it: «We don't work on e-mails. We are good allies, have reached 2.1%, and deploy forces in eastern Europe».
A NATO official clarified the treaty does not provide for expulsion. Spain has increased defense spending by 11.482 million euros via budgetary credits since 2023, reaching 2.1% of GDP this year, with over 2,000 troops in allied missions, such as 140 in Incirlik with Patriot.
Sánchez proposed extending recovery funds by 6-12 months and easing fiscal rules, but diplomats from three countries see it as «very difficult». Ursula von der Leyen stated flexibility applies only in severe recession.
