Spain's coalition government was divided on Tuesday over the government's pledge of 1 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, after a far-left minister described the amount as “very high.”
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signed a security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Madrid on Monday, which includes a commitment to provide Kyiv with 1 billion euros worth of military aid this year.
The Spanish prime minister said this would “allow Ukraine to strengthen its capabilities, including its air defense systems, which are essential for protecting civilians, cities and infrastructure.”
But Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz, leader of the far-left Smar party, a minority party in Sánchez's coalition government, criticized the amount.
“This is a very expensive thing,” she told Spanish public broadcaster TVE, accusing Mr Sánchez's Socialist party of “lacking transparency”.
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“Yesterday we learned from the press that this 1 billion euros was meant to be used to buy weapons for Ukraine,” added Dias, one of the three deputy prime ministers.
“Defense policy is of great importance to the country and the public has a right to a public debate.”
The aid package has been approved by the Spanish parliament, according to Spanish media reports, but it has not been made clear who will receive the aid.
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Sanchez's Socialist party and the SMALU party have frequently clashed over foreign policy since forming a coalition government in 2020, with the far-left SMALU party a vocal critic of arms exports to Ukraine.
According to the Kiel Institute, which tracks weapons promised and delivered to Ukraine since the Russian invasion, Spain has so far pledged 330 million euros in military aid, making it a small contributor at European level.
By comparison, Berlin, Paris and Rome contributed €18.61 billion, €5.65 billion and €1 billion respectively, while London's pledge was €9.22 billion, the figures show.
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