The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, yesterday reiterated Spain’s support for Ukraine, as well as its backing for Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO.
Albares, who took part in the meeting of Atlantic Alliance foreign ministers held in Berlin, held a meeting with his Ukrainian colleague, Dimitri Kuleba, before the meeting began, as he explained. I have once again conveyed to him, to the people of Ukraine and to his government,” said Albares, “my support for the survival of a free, sovereign and independent Ukraine.
The foreign minister added that they exchanged views on the situation in Europe in general, on Ukraine’s position in Europe and on the NATO summit in Madrid.
After highlighting the presence of Sweden and Finland at the Berlin meeting, Albares recalled that Finland had already put its candidacy on the table and that the Swedish Foreign Minister had made statements to the same effect, although the country had not yet taken a final decision.
“Spain will of course support Finland’s application for membership, and if Sweden’s decision is in line with the statements we have heard, it will also support it”.
Albares also referred to the working session that the ministers will hold tomorrow in Berlin and highlighted the so-called strategic concept, which must be approved at the meeting, as one of the key issues, in addition to the war in Ukraine and the Russian threat.
“Spain’s voice will be heard tomorrow to support the fact that this strategic concept will also have an important southern flank component. Of course Russia is the main threat and that has to be reflected, but we must not forget that threats come from the southern flank,” he said.
“Russia is getting closer and closer and the misuse of gas or irregular migration that we have seen on the eastern flank can also happen on the southern flank,” he added.
Asked about Turkey’s resistance to Finnish and Swedish membership, Albares said that while he could not speak for others, it should be remembered that NATO is an alliance of democracies and that as established democracies, the most natural thing to do is to accept the two Nordic countries into the organisation.
“It should also be remembered that NATO is a defensive alliance, not an offensive alliance, and therefore no one should feel threatened by the accession of new members,” he said.
