The new US ambassador will try to make Spain understand “its great mistake” in not raising defense spending to 5%

Eduardo González The new US ambassador to Spain, Benjamín León Jr., assured the Spanish Senate this Thursday that he will try to make Pedro Sánchez's government understand the "great mistake" it has made by not committing to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP. "I will work diligently with the Spanish government to make it understand that this is a great mistake," León stated during his appearance before the Senate hearing to examine his candidacy for the Embassy in Madrid. "Spain has always been a great partner of the United States and a great host" for the US armed forces, he continued. Therefore, he assured that he will work to ensure that the Spanish government "reverses that policy and fulfills the commitment" of 5% and "to strengthen our defense partnership, including increasing Spanish defense spending and investments and continuing participation in military exercises." For his part, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho, reminded León that “Spain has been an important partner of the United States,” but “I share President Donald Trump’s concerns regarding Spain’s commitment to our shared interests.” “Spain was one of the first countries to make the grave mistake of recognizing a Palestinian state and has called for an arms embargo against Israel, which only rewards terrorists ravaging the Middle East. Such actions encourage Hamas rather than deter them,” the senator continued. “Spain is the only NATO ally that refused to commit 5% of its GDP to defense spending. President Trump has made it clear that Spain needs to stick with the program, especially as Russia increases its provocations against our shared allies,” Risch warned. Separately, he added, “Spain has failed to address the security risks that China poses to the transatlantic community, particularly by continuing government contracts with Huawei and seeking closer economic ties with Beijing, both of which are very dangerous. Mr. León, I hope you will work with your counterparts in Spain to correct these mistakes,” he concluded. Benjamín León Jr. has not yet taken office, nine months after being appointed by President Donald Trump. The new ambassador is still awaiting Senate confirmation of his appointment, for which he must undergo vetting by the Foreign Relations Committee, which is responsible for validating his appointment. Once validated, it will be sent to the Senate, which must approve it again. The Senate's ratification of León's appointment (born in 1944 in Oriente, Cuba, and emigrated to Miami in 1961) is considered certain, given the Republican majority in the Senate. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Spain continues to be led by Chargé d'Affaires Rian Harker Harris. Benjamín León Jr., 80, a Republican Party donor, will take office at a time of difficult bilateral relations. Last week, Donald Trump proposed Spain's expulsion from NATO for its refusal to raise defense spending to 5%, a path not provided for in the NATO Treaty itself, which establishes voluntary withdrawal as the only procedure for doing so. Pedro Sánchez's government reacted by recalling that "Spain is a full member and committed to NATO" and calling for "maximum calm." This was not the first time Trump has attacked Pedro Sánchez's government for its refusal to increase military spending during the NATO Summit in The Hague, held last June. On that occasion, the US president threatened to make Spain pay "double" in tariffs, but Sánchez himself, in his response, pointed out that trade negotiations between Spain and third countries are the responsibility of the EU as a whole, in its capacity as a single market, and therefore, the United States cannot impose differentiated tariffs on one of its member states.

Related Content

The Treaty on Gibraltar, published this Thursday, avoids any “affirmation or denial of sovereignty”

The Elcano Barometer reveals Spain remains largely unknown in Asia

Albares announces he will appear before Congress to explain the treaty on Gibraltar following its official publication

The 23F papers: Haig's lack of tact and exchange of messages with the US

Spain and Panama sign bilateral cooperation agreement for sustainable development