Sánchez rules out the transfer to Ukraine of the Spanish Patriots deployed in Turkey

Eduardo González The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, assured yesterday before the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that Spain's objective is to keep its Patriots missile batteries in Turkish territory and that, therefore, they will not be moved to Ukraine, as had been the case. raised by the Government of Volodimir Zelensky. During the joint press conference after the eighth Spanish-Turkish intergovernmental Summit, held yesterday at the La Moncloa Complex in Madrid, Erdogan expressed his “gratitude to Spanish friends” for the deployment, since February 2015, of the Patriota unit within the framework of NATO's 'Fence' mission to protect the two million civilians living in Adana against possible ballistic attacks from Syria. “We hope that Spain is emulated by other NATO countries,” he added. In recent months, Ukraine has requested the transfer of this anti-missile battery to its country to contain Russian aggression and the German Government claimed yesterday, during the meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, that NATO members gave up their anti-aircraft batteries to kyiv. In this regard, Pedro Sánchez assured during the press conference that the presence of the Patriots batteries in Turkey corresponds to the "commitment" of the Government of Spain "to NATO and to the security of a member and ally like Turkey" to protect "a “area with elements of insecurity.” The transfer of the batteries is “an element of conversation with the Government of Ukraine, but Spain's commitment is that they will remain in Turkey,” he added. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, assured yesterday that Spain will send, within a few days, a second batch of interceptors to feed the Patriot batteries, but "it is not going to send a Patriot system, among other reasons because the few we have are being used and some of them are specifically in Turkey on a NATO mission.” Erdogan appreciates Spain's “firm stance” on Palestine On the other hand, and as expected, Erdogan and Sánchez addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip during the summit. In this regard, the President of the Government assured that the two countries share the defense of a ceasefire, the entry of more humanitarian aid "in proportion to the needs of the people of Gaza" and the release of the hostages and once again recalled the recent recognition of the Palestinian State by Spain and the need to move towards the two-state solution. In this regard, Erdogan thanked Sánchez for his "forceful and firm stance in defense of the cause of Palestine." “The world is in the hands of five countries, and if one says no, everything falls apart,” he recalled, referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and their right of veto. “One of the five (the United States) is always with Israel” and, in this context, “Pedro Sánchez has defended the voice of the oppressed and has contributed to moving the world's conscience,” he highlighted. “I sincerely hope that Spain's position serves as an example for other countries that have not yet recognized Palestine,” he added. Regarding Ukraine, Pedro Sánchez highlighted "the role of Turkey", which has "achieved important agreements for the exchange of prisoners, the signing of the grain agreement and measures for the protection of nuclear facilities in Ukraine." Likewise, he assured that the Alliance of Civilizations, promoted by Spain and Turkey almost twenty years ago, is currently "more necessary than ever." In the same sense, Erdogan highlighted that the Alliance of Civilizations is "the important platform to combat Islamophobia", especially after the recent elections to the European Parliament, which have "increased our concern." European Union On the other hand, Pedro Sánchez assured that his Government is a “firm defender of the constructive rapprochement between Turkey and the European Union” and recalled that, during the recent Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell and the European Commission presented a communication to establish “a positive agenda that allows relaunching the dialogue on strategic issues such as migration, customs agreements and energy policy.” According to Sánchez, Spain “promoted” support for this communication during the Extraordinary European Council last October and the Spanish Government's desire is for talks between the two parties to “start as soon as possible.” In the aforementioned Council debate, EU leaders stressed that Turkey's constructive participation will be essential to progress in the areas of cooperation and underlined the importance of resuming talks to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with EU values. In this regard, they welcomed the appointment of former Colombian Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar as personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Cyprus. For his part, Erdogan assured that "Spain is one of our friends who have best understood Turkey's contributions to the EU." “She has provided the strongest support for our accession process from the beginning, and we hope that this attitude will continue to be strengthened in the coming period,” added the Turkish president. Joint declaration and agreements On behalf of the Government of Spain, the Vice Presidents of Labor and Ecological Transition, Yolanda Díaz and Teresa Ribero, respectively, participated in the High Level Meeting (in addition to Sánchez); and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares; Transport, Óscar Puente; Agriculture, Fishing and Food, Luis Planas; e Economy, Commerce and Business, Carlos Body; Science and Universities, Diana Morant; and Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, Elma Saiz. The Turkish delegation was made up of Erdogan and six ministers (Energy and Resources, Treasury and Finance, industry and Technology, Commerce, Agriculture and Forestry and Family and Social Security). During the meeting, a joint declaration was signed that continues the one signed at the 2021 Summit, held in Ankara and in which the current Comprehensive Partnership framework was agreed. The text includes references to bilateral relations, to the harmony of the two countries in international affairs, including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine; the objective of reaching 25 billion in trade exchanges before the next Summit and various provisions on security and defense, the fight against crime and terrorism, migration, energy and climate change, work, youth and culture. In addition, thirteen memoranda of understanding were signed at the Summit: four on trade relations, two on energy and the environment, two on scientific and technological cooperation, one on vocational training, one on a plan for access to public employment services, one on the Cervantes Institute and its Turkish counterpart, one on the recognition of maritime transport titles and a final agreement on political cooperation in the field of social services.

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