Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares will be meeting with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken, in Washington on Friday, May 10 to inform him of Spain’s decision to recognize the Palestinian State. The Spanish government is planning to make this recognition before the upcoming European elections on June 9. Albares will explain this decision to the U.S., as they are Israel’s main ally, during his visit to the Department of State with a delegation from his ministry. The U.S. has expressed its opposition to unilateral recognition of Palestine, but has not been hostile towards Spain’s decision.
Yolanda Díaz, the leader of Sumar, has been calling for Spain to recognize the State of Palestine immediately, but the government is looking to do so in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been working to get other European countries to do the same, with limited success. Ireland has shown support for recognizing Palestine, with Prime Minister Simon Harris indicating that both countries are eager to move forward in this direction soon. Spain is hopeful that other European nations will follow suit in recognizing Palestine.
Albares will discuss Spain’s position on the Gaza conflict with Blinken, advocating for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population. Spain also supports the idea of an international conference to establish a two-State solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. The upcoming U.S. elections and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of such a conference have made the window of opportunity for this event increasingly narrow.
The Spanish government’s support for Ukraine will also be on Albares’ agenda in Washington, with Spain recently providing Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to help Ukraine defend itself against attacks. The upcoming NATO summit in July will focus on the Ukraine conflict, where Spain will advocate for support for the Ukrainian government. Bilaterally, Spain and the U.S. will also address issues such as the clean-up of contaminated land in Palomares, Spain, from a 1966 nuclear accident, and the removal of tariffs on Spanish black olives.
Overall, Albares’ visit to Washington will be crucial in strengthening ties between Spain and the U.S. on issues such as recognizing the Palestinian State, supporting Ukraine, and addressing trade disputes. Spain is hoping to garner support from its European counterparts for recognizing Palestine and to work towards peace in the Middle East through diplomatic efforts. The relationship between Spain and the U.S. will be significant in shaping international policies and addressing global challenges in the coming months.
