Robles threatens to veto NATO’s industrial plan if it does not include Spain’s military industry

Spanish Minister of Defense, Daisy Robles, expressed his anger this Thursday because NATO did not include Spanish industry in a meeting with representatives of the sector organized in Brussels. Robles did not attend the meeting — aimed at discussing increased arms production in allied countries — out of protest, since none of the 25 companies present were Spanish. The minister also raised his voice and ensured that Spain will “veto” the plan actions to increase defense production, if it does not take into account the Spanish industry.

“Spain has shown itself to be a serious, reliable and committed ally and it is clear that it must be at a meeting like this,” he said in statements to the media on the way to the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels. The minister conveyed her discomfort to the Secretary General of the Alliance, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, who she asked to “reconsider” this decision, while expressing her intention to block the adoption of the industrial plan at the next summit in July, which will be if it is not held in Lithuania .

first contact

The Atlantic Alliance organized a meeting with 25 representatives of the European and American arms industry this Thursday. Other countries also showed their displeasure, as this initial selection left out 13 of the 31 allied countries. This is the first contact, in which no political decision will be made, but for Robles, the absence of Spain is a bad starting point. “We understand that this is a plan that must continue to evolve and cannot be considered approved until specified“, assured the minister, trying to reduce the tension. Nevertheless, he was resolute in his position: “Everything that is done in NATO regarding the defense industry must count on Spain.”