Spain: Arms embargo on Israel continues / Trump threatens Madrid

Pars Today – The Prime Minister of Spain stated that, despite the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the Spanish government will maintain the arms embargo imposed on Israel.

On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that his country’s arms embargo against Israel will remain in place. According to Pars Today, Sánchez emphasized: “We now have a ceasefire, but peace still needs to be established. This is an opportunity, and we must support this process from Spain and Europe, guided by our perspective on international relations and in cooperation with the United Nations.”

Sánchez also announced Madrid’s readiness to deploy forces to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping mission. Last week the Spanish Parliament approved a government decree banning the sale or import of weapons, military equipment, and technology to or from the Israeli regime in the Occupied Territories.

General strike and widespread protests in Spain in solidarity with Gaza
At the call of major labor and student unions in Spain, tens of thousands of people participated in over 200 demonstrations across the country on Wednesday to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. Protesters, carrying flags and banners in support of Palestine, demanded an end to military and diplomatic cooperation with Israel and urged the government to take an “effective and courageous” stance in support of Palestine and Gaza. The strike comes amid a growing wave of public outrage over Israel’s attack on the “Resistance Fleet” and the detention of activists aboard it.

Trump threatens Spain
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Spain if it fails to meet NATO spending requirements. In a Wednesday interview, Trump accused Spain of being the only country that has not increased its military spending to five percent of its GDP, claiming that Madrid has “incredibly disrespected NATO.” He added, “I am very dissatisfied with Spain.” The threat of sanctions comes as Trump has personally and actively pushed for increased defense spending—a rise that Madrid had previously considered impossible.

Spain warns the U.S.: Tariffs would backfire
On Wednesday, the Spanish government strongly responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about imposing tariffs on Spain if it fails to increase defense spending, warning that such a policy would be costly for American citizens. Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz told Parliament that Spain’s trade balance with the U.S. is negative, meaning these measures would ultimately harm the Americans themselves.