<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and Defense, Margarita Robles, received this Wednesday in Madrid the future High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security of the EU and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, with whom they discussed the war against Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East or the change of Government in the United States.</strong></h4> On the one hand, Albares received Kallas at the ministerial headquarters of the Viana Palace. During the meeting, according to a press release from the Ministry, both reviewed the international agenda and paid special attention to the intensification of the war of invasion against Ukraine, which has already lasted for more than a thousand days, and to the situation in the Middle East. Albares and Kallas agreed on the need to join forces to guarantee European defence and security, as confirmed by the commitment ratified on Monday in Warsaw during the meeting of the G5EU+, which brings together the five largest countries in the EU (Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Poland) plus the United Kingdom, and which was also attended by the future high representative. In this first contact, Albares explained Spain's vision of the EU's Foreign and Security Policy, with special emphasis on strategic regions for the Union and for our country, such as Latin America, which is "key not only because of the historical ties and shared values, but also because of its potential in the energy and digital transition," according to the Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the “important role of Spain” in the southern neighbourhood and in Africa was also highlighted, especially through the new Africa Strategy, which will be presented shortly. The minister also assured Kaja Kallas that she can count on Spain as a “reliable, pro-European and cooperative member state, with a global foreign policy, with its own identity and with clear identifying features: the defence of the peace of the United Nations, democracy and multilateralism”. <h5><strong>Robles</strong></h5> On the other hand, Margarita Robles received Kaja Kallas at the headquarters of the Ministry. The meeting took place one day after the meeting in Brussels of the Foreign Affairs Council (CAE) for Defence issues of the European Union, convened by Kallas' predecessor, Josep Borrell, and whose first session focused on the support of the European Union to Ukraine and was attended by the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, and, by videoconference, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov. At the meeting on Wednesday, Robles and Kallas reviewed some of the most relevant issues affecting Europe today, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a country that Spain will continue to help to “achieve a fair peace and the defence of democratic values”, according to the minister. “There are already more than a thousand days of a war that is leaving many victims and thousands of displaced people,” lamented Robles, quoted in a press release from the Ministry. “Unity is essential to stop the conflict,” she added. Kaja Kallas, former Prime Minister of Estonia, was the subject of a search and arrest warrant earlier this year by the Russian Government of Vladimir Putin on the accusation of violently rebelling against the “historical memory” and showing her support for Ukraine. “Putin's measure is another proof of your courage and of Estonia's leadership in the defence of democracy and freedom,” declared the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the time.
