Spain prepares to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine
2 Min Read
Madrid will start delivering heavy weapons and tanks, in addition to training soldiers in Latvia.
-
A Leopard 2 A4 tank, a weapon Spain will be sending to Ukraine.
Spain is preparing to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine, including anti-aircraft missiles and around 40 Leopard 2A4 tanks. Madrid is also planning to train Ukrainian troops to use them, according to the El Pais newspaper.
The first stage of training will be carried out in Latvia, which hosts around 6 Leopard 2E and 500 Spanish soldiers, the report writes. The second phase will be in Spain.
Furthermore, the Spanish Ministry of Defense is finishing up Shorad Aspide short-range anti-aircraft missiles deliveries to Ukraine and looks to restore and supply around 40 heavy tanks along with the missiles.
The newspaper said that the decision amounts to a "quantum leap" for Spain. Madrid was only delivering light weapons (including munitions and personal protective equipment) to Ukraine, which has changed now.
Spain to double its military spending
Last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for an increase in military spending under the banner of Russian "security threat", as Spain approaches 40 years since NATO membership.
"The war in Ukraine has opened the eyes of European society, including in Spain," said Sanchez at an event at Madrid's Teatro Real, which was attended by King Felipe VI and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
"Many have understood that our security is no longer guaranteed."
Read more: Global military spending hit new record in 2021
"Today, our security is under threat from the regime of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," Sanchez said, drawing on the importance of reinforcing "our deterrence capabilities."
That would "require military capabilities that were modern, viable, and deployable, which can only be acquired through increased investment in defence," he said. "The cost of doing nothing would be far higher."
In 2021, Spain invested 1.03% of its GDP in its military - a relatively low figure for a NATO member. Only Luxembourg has a smaller number, according to NATO data.
The Spanish President vowed to increase military spending to 2% - however, the decision will likely face protest from the far-left coalition partner, Podemos, who refused to join the event at Teatro Real.
