Doha: HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares, commended Qatar’s international mediation efforts and its central role in conflict resolution at a time when the global need for effective diplomatic responses to escalating wars has become more urgent than ever. Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Mediation in a Time of Disintegration” at the Doha Forum, His Excellency underscored that armed conflict is incapable of settling disputes, emphasizing that Qatar’s engagement in sensitive mediation tracks has emerged as a notable example of how diplomacy can pave the way for peaceful solutions.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Spanish Foreign Minister praised Qatar for convening the 23rd Doha Forum, describing it as a vital platform for examining the future of the global order, exploring mechanisms to prevent conflict, and discussing security challenges, including those facing Europe. He observed that Europe, confronted by the repercussions of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and broader geopolitical instability, must now articulate its own independent security vision. He noted that the continent is navigating an exceptionally difficult moment in modern history.
Albares cautioned that certain states have come to treat war as a routine instrument of foreign policy – an approach he warned undermines the stability of the European continent and threatens national sovereignty. He reaffirmed Spain’s firm opposition to any violation of a nation’s territorial integrity.
Addressing questions on defense expenditure and Spain’s role in NATO, His Excellency explained that Spain does not intend to increase its defense budget to 5 percent of GDP, noting that the country’s sustainable ceiling is 2.1 percent. He stressed, however, that Spain fully honors its NATO commitments, contributes personnel to allied missions, and plays an active role in safeguarding Baltic airspace through its military deployments.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted Spain’s recognition of the State of Palestine, noting that this decision has strengthened Spain’s credibility and influence in efforts to advance peace in the Middle East. His Excellency emphasized that Spain’s recognition – followed by similar moves from other European and international partners – signals a growing global consensus that the two-state solution remains the only realistic framework for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
Elaborating on the rationale behind the decision, he noted that Spain acted out of a commitment to justice and the pursuit of peace, and out of a refusal to accept that the Palestinian people should remain, indefinitely, the only population in the world living without a state. He stressed that durable peace requires a set of essential steps: ending settler violence and halting settlement expansion, rebuilding Gaza, re-establishing a unified Palestinian leadership capable of governing both the West Bank and Gaza, and ultimately creating an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, living alongside Israel in peace and mutual respect.
HE the Minister announced that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Spain next Wednesday – a visit he said will provide an opportunity to reaffirm Madrid’s commitment to supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state. He concluded by reiterating that diplomacy remains the only genuine path toward a just and enduring peace, and emphasized that Europe must assume its full responsibilities in defending international law. He again lauded Qatar’s role as an effective mediator at a time when global crises continue to multiply.