The news triggered a storm of criticism in the left -wing coalition government of Sánchez, with the Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz, who heads the partner of the Junior Sumar coalition, demanding that the situation be “rectified immediately”. Antonio Maíllo, general coordinator of the Left Party United within the Sumar group, described it as “greater crisis” with which the executive had been confronted since its entry in 2023.
Faced with the threat that Sumar could abandon the five seats she controls in the Council of Ministers, Sánchez decided to quickly solve the problem. A head of the Spanish government granted anonymity to discuss the politically sensitive to politico issue that after trying all the other avenues to withdraw from the agreement, the contract would be “unilaterally” terminated.
The ammunition cycles would be blocked against import for reasons of “public interest”, said the official, adding that Spain would not buy or sell weapons to Israel in the future and that the government examined what legal action could follow. Given the unilateral nature of the cancellation of the contract, it is possible that Madrid can pay the total amount for which he agreed to buy the balls, that it receives one of them.
Although the Spanish government maintains that it does not acquire Israeli armaments, other transactions seem to have been signed since 2023. A spokesperson has told Politico that contracts are intended for essential weapons systems that are exclusively produced by Israeli companies, or contain components that are only manufactured.
The Spanish government was already binding on Sánchez’s announcement earlier this week that Madrid would increase defense expenses to 2% of the gross domestic product this year, triggering an outcry from Sumar and the government’s left allies in the country’s parliament.
The junior partner of the ruling coalition is concerned about the possibility that an increase in military spending can be made at the cost of the vast social protection system in Spain, and also expressed his opposition to the country’s “militarization”. Sánchez insists that Spain remains a “pacifist” country and that investments are intended to “dissuade those who might think about attacking Europe”.
The crisis of the ammunition contract is personally embarrassing for the Prime Minister, who assured last year that the legislators that Spain had not bought or sold arms in Israel since 2023.
It is likely to be challenged on these declarations when it will then appear in the parliament of the country, while being attacked simultaneously by right parts for not having obtained the necessary ammunition for the internal security forces.
Politices
