The Diplomat in Spain

Eduardo González

Yesterday, foreign policy once again featured in a new exchange of disqualifications between the People’s Party, which described the defense of the Palestinian State as “posturing” and asked the Government why it defends “the Palestinians, but not the Sahrawis”, and the minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who accused the main party of defending “the international policy of clash and conflict” and of wanting to return to “the photo of the Azores.”

During a questioning “about the deterioration of the foreign policy of the Kingdom of Spain” before the Plenary Session of the Lower House, Carlos Floriano, of the PP, assured that his party supports the two-state solution in the Middle East, but, at this time, the recognition of the Palestinian State, repeatedly announced by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, “has become a speech, a story, a posturing” and it is not clear what “effects it will have in the area”, nor whether it will allow progress towards peace or a ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian aid or the release of hostages or avoid escalation. Likewise, he asked Albares if he considers it “sensible” to increase funds to the UN agency for assistance to Palestinians (UNRWA) while weapons continue to be sold and purchased from Israel.

Floriano also linked the issue of the Middle East with the policy towards Morocco to ask why the Government defends “the Palestinians, but not the Sahrawis”, in relation to the “inexplicable change” of position on Western Sahara. Likewise, he described as “alarming” that customs have not yet been opened in Ceuta and Melilla and accused the Government of accepting “the arbitrariness” of Rabat with respect to the two Autonomous Cities.

The PP MP also criticized the “silence as sad as it is thunderous” that the Government maintains regarding Venezuela, whose policy is directed by former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, “a retired politician with interests in the country,” and denounced the “obscurantism.” with which Albares carries out the negotiation on Gibraltar. “It is proven that you have neither the freedom nor the intention to pursue a State foreign policy,” because “to have a State policy you must have high-mindedness and a vision of the future, and you lack both,” he concluded.

In his response, Albares criticized the PP for its lack of support for the Government regarding Palestine “at this historic and dramatic moment” and reminded it that the independent investigation has shown that “there is not a single piece of evidence that links UNRWA to terrorism.” of Hamas.” Likewise, he reiterated that, since the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, no licenses for the purchase and export of weapons have been granted to Israel.

Likewise, he criticized the PP’s “anti-Moroccan obsession” and accused the main opposition party of wanting to “return to Perejil.” “I would like it not to be like that, but it is clear that for you international politics is that of clash, that of conflict,” he lamented. “The days of the photo of the Azores that got us into an unjust and illegal war like no other are things of the past and no matter how much it may bother you, they are going to stay there,” he added. Likewise, he assured that “a document is being drafted” on Gibraltar that will be sent to the PP when it is drafted and that Spain’s position on Venezuela is “very clear” of support for democracy and free and democratic elections.

According to Albares, the Government’s current policy “has put Spain in its rightful place in the world, leading the debates of the future”, but the PP has shown “to prefer demagoguery to reasoning”. The Government’s foreign policy in Spain “is at the level of a great country, which you want to see as small and weak,” he concluded.