Foreign Minister discusses “diplomatic initiatives for de-escalation” with his Middle Eastern counterparts

The Diplomat Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares held a round of talks this Thursday with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Oman, and Bahrain, to whom he conveyed “Spain’s support and solidarity” regarding the regional destabilization in the Middle East and with whom he explored “diplomatic initiatives for de-escalation and negotiation.” According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albares spoke for several hours with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Oman, and Bahrain, “but further contacts in the coming days are not ruled out.” “Spain’s position in this conflict has been clear from the beginning: our country defends international law, de-escalation, a return to the negotiating table, and peace,” the minister reiterated to his counterparts, according to the press release. "I spoke with my Qatari counterpart, my friend Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, about the serious situation in the Middle East. We discussed the consequences of the war for the gas market and the global economy. I reiterated our support in the face of the unjustified attacks on his country," he wrote on social media. "I discussed with my Saudi counterpart, my friend Faisal bin Farhan, the evolving situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. I reiterated our condemnation of the Iranian attacks and my condolences for the victims. I thanked him for his assistance in the evacuation of the Spanish citizens," he posted in another message. "I spoke with my Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. I conveyed our appreciation for the UN Security Council resolution condemning the Iranian attacks, which was presented by Bahrain. I also thanked him for his support in the evacuation of the Spanish citizens," he continued in another message. "I spoke with my Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. I conveyed our appreciation for the resolution adopted by Bahrain in condemning the Iranian attacks. I also thanked him for his support in the evacuation of the Spanish citizens," he continued in another message. Furthermore, given the escalation of the conflict, Albares reiterated to his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raggi, Spain's "unequivocal condemnation" of the Israeli attacks against his country, "whose security and stability are vital for the entire region," and condemned the missile launches by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah against Israel. "It is essential that all parties fully comply with Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as with the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024," he warned. For this reason, Spain has urged Israel to comply with its obligations under international law and has demanded that Hezbollah cease its attacks against Israel and submit to the Lebanese government's disarmament plan. The Lebanese people, the minister insisted, "cannot be held hostage by an external conflict and deserve a future of stability, peace, and prosperity." “Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and will continue to support the Lebanese people with a nine million euro aid package,” he concluded, referring to the announcement made by Albares himself at the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting this past Tuesday. “I received a call from the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares Bueno, who reiterated Spain’s support for Lebanon and expressed his strong condemnation of the Israeli aggression on its territory. I thanked him for his support and assured him that the government would do everything possible to contribute to the restoration of stability,” Youssef Raggi wrote on social media. Spain condemns Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah's attacks on Israel The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday condemning "the intense attacks launched by Israel against Lebanon, and particularly against its capital Beirut, targeting densely populated areas," which have caused "numerous civilian casualties." "Spain recognizes the efforts of the Lebanese government to achieve a state monopoly on the use of force and condemns Hezbollah's indiscriminate attacks against Israel, which could trigger a new spiral of violence and suffering," the Ministry warned. Spain also expressed its "total rejection of the illegal and unjustified order by the Israeli army to evacuate the civilian population south of the Zahrani River, an order that is completely disproportionate and contrary to international law," and demanded "an end to these actions, as well as full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity." “Spain maintains its firmest commitment to the full compliance with Resolution 1701,” reaffirms its support for the mandate of the UN mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and demands “that all parties respect the security of the deployed contingent,” it concludes.

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