Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, A tour starts this Tuesday Middle EastAccording to information obtained from diplomatic sources by El Periódico de España from the Prensa Ibérica group, they have stops in Lebanon and Iraq. He will meet with the administration in Lebanon and visit Spanish troops assigned to the UNIFIL mission. This is a United Nations operation to maintain peace along the so-called Green Line between Lebanon and Israel. It is currently led by Spanish General Aroldo Lázaro and has approximately 650 soldiers serving in Spain.
He will later visit Iraq, according to the same sources. Follow in the footsteps of the Head of Government, Pedro Sánchez, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiite al-Sudani, who paid an official visit to the country on December 27 and 28, later personally thanked the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, for his “courageous” attitude towards the conflict between the two countries. Israel And HamasWe call on the Israeli authorities to respect international law to prevent the suffering of the people of Gaza. It is an example of the harmony that has emerged during the first official visit to Iraq by a Spanish president since José María Aznar arrived there after the Anglo-American invasion in 2003.
regional climbing
The tour comes amid Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 25,000 people, mostly children. And he is on a full-blown diplomatic frenzy to prevent an escalation of regional tensions, which are currently limited to airstrikes in a few countries.
The front that worries the most is the Lebanese front, where the Shiite militia of Hezbollah, Israel’s enemy and supported by Iran, is located. For now, the exchange of missile and artillery fire has remained limited, but there are members of the Israeli Government who are calling for a full-scale attack on the neighboring country. Israelis evacuated from the north may return.
A wave of attacks on American targets in Iraq and retaliation ordered by Washington led to a diplomatic conflict between the two countries and a demand from Baghdad for American troops to leave the country.
At the same time, specific attacks are also taking place. Syria, Iran and Pakistan.
On the other hand, Houthi rebels Yemen They continue to choke maritime traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, preventing the passage of goods passing through the Suez Canal. The US bombed Yemeni positions in retaliation.
Peace plan for the Middle East
José Manuel Albares traveled to the region after attending the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where EU foreign policy High Representative Josep Borrell proposed a comprehensive peace plan for the region. Complete the State of Palestine with security guarantees to Israel. At this meeting, Spain assured that it would support the recognition of Palestine within the framework of the international peace conference advocated by the European Union at the request of Madrid.
The document, obtained by El Periódico de Catalunya from Grupo Prensa Ibérica, “Practical steps” to develop a peace processIt builds on the Peace Day Efforts initiative, which was suspended after the Hamas attack on 7 October and the subsequent Israeli counter-offensive, and the support of European leaders for holding a peace conference that should begin even if the parties to the conflict do not make peace. We are ready to participate.
This Monday the Twenty-Seven held a round of separate contacts with Foreign Ministers. Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabiaall key actors for conflict resolution Loopreports EFE
The Minister said, “It is time to move forward in the organization of this conference and the aim cannot be other than the implementation of the two-state solution. It is time to move from talking about the two-state solution to implementing it.” Foreign Affairs from the Community capital.
The Minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts Ayman al Safadi from Jordan, Riad al Malki from Palestine and Sameh Soukry from Egypt and talked about the conflict in Gaza and the latest situation. Widely spread across the Middle East.
New mission in the Red Sea
Member states of the European Union came together this Monday. Preliminary agreement to approve new military missionAccording to Europa Press, it may use force to repel attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
“We agreed in principle on the maritime operation and discussed different options for this mission,” Josep Borrell said at a press conference in Brussels. said.
In any case, he explained, the Twenty-Seven must now move forward and reach unanimous agreement on the authority to establish the mission, which is expected to occur in February. Borrell goes on to describe the legislative text and the operational nature of the mission, although he argues that “There will be no simple passive escort for cargo ships“.