<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Defense Minister Margarita Robles asserted this Thursday that Spain is a “serious and reliable ally” of NATO “that fulfills its commitments” and that “wants to have the best relations with all its partners and allies, but does not take lessons from anyone.”</strong></h4> Robles made these statements during the closing ceremony of the 26th Armed Forces Staff Course at the headquarters of the Advanced Center for National Defense Studies (CESEDEN) in Madrid, presided over by King Felipe VI. In her speech, the Defense Minister defended the role of Spain and its Armed Forces “as a serious, reliable ally that fulfills its commitments.” “As a great country, Spain wants to have the best relations with all its partners and allies, but does not take lessons from anyone,” she warned at the event, where 144 students graduated as Staff Officers with the goal of becoming a command advisor. Among the graduates are 27 foreign students from 20 countries. The United States is the most represented country, with three graduates, followed by Mexico, Peru, France, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, with two students each. Margarita Robles made these statements the day after the NATO Summit in The Hague, where President of the Government Pedro Sánchez ultimately distanced himself from the obligation to allocate 5% of GDP to defense spending, despite the fact that the final declaration clearly states the "allies'" commitment to "invest 5% of GDP annually" by 2035. At the end of the Summit, the Prime Minister insisted that 2.1% is sufficient to meet the Alliance's capability targets. This stance has outraged US President Donald Trump, who has even threatened to punish Spain by making it pay "double" in tariffs, despite the fact that trade negotiations between the two countries are conducted through the EU. "What Spain has done is terrible. The only country that wants to stay at 2%. It's terrible," Trump declared at a press conference.
