Belonging to the Spanish foreign policy team, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, is slated for a tour beginning this Tuesday in the Middle East. Reports from diplomatic sources cited by El Periódico de España, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, indicate stops in Lebanon and Iraq. The minister will engage with Lebanese authorities and visit Spanish personnel serving with the UNIFIL mission, a United Nations operation designed to maintain peace along the Green Line separating Lebanon and Israel. The unit is currently led by Spanish General Aroldo Lázaro and comprises roughly 650 Spanish soldiers in service.
The itinerary then moves on to Iraq, according to the same sources. The visit follows in the footsteps of the head of government, Pedro Sánchez, who met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiite al-Sudani in late December and later publicly thanked Sánchez for his steadfast stance amid the Gaza-Israel conflict. The exchange underscores the continuing effort to uphold international law and humanitarian protections during ongoing hostilities.
regional climbing
The trip unfolds as Israel endures a war in Gaza that has caused a grave humanitarian toll, with casualties far exceeding twenty-five thousand, including many children. The diplomatic push aims to prevent further escalation across the region, where airstrikes remain limited but tensions are high.
The Lebanese front is of particular concern due to the presence of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia aligned with Iran and a long-standing adversary of Israel. While exchanges of missiles and artillery have been limited for now, some Israeli voices advocate a broader military response, and population shifts continue as residents evacuated from the north consider returning.
A confrontation between the United States and Iran-aligned actors has led to a diplomatic strain, with Baghdad demanding the withdrawal of American troops after attacks on Iraqi targets were attributed to American forces. Similar incidents have occurred across Syria, Iran and Pakistan, illustrating the fragile and interconnected security environment in the region.
Separately, Houthi rebels in Yemen maintain pressure on shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, affecting maritime traffic and prompting U.S. military actions against Yemeni positions in response.
Peace plan for the Middle East
Albares travelled to the region following the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell outlined a broad peace framework. The plan envisions a Palestinian state alongside robust security guarantees for Israel. At the meeting, Spain signaled its support for recognizing a Palestinian state within the framework of an international peace conference advocated by the European Union at Madrid’s request.
The document, which El Periódico de Catalunya obtained through Grupo Prensa Ibérica, details practical steps to advance a peace process. It builds on a momentum for peace that had paused after Hamas attacked in October, and it emphasizes European leaders’ willingness to convene a peace conference even if direct negotiations have not yet resumed. Spain has expressed readiness to participate actively.
On Monday, the Twenty-Seven carried out a series of bilateral conversations with foreign ministers from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, all pivotal players in regional conflict resolution. The overarching aim remains the implementation of a two-state solution, transitioning from dialogue to concrete action. This message was echoed by Spanish Foreign Affairs officials in Brussels.
The minister held discussions with Jordan’s Ayman al Safadi, Palestine’s Riad al-Malki, and Egypt’s Sameh Soukry, addressing the Gaza crisis and the broader regional situation as it evolves across the Middle East.
New mission in the Red Sea
EU member states reached a preliminary agreement to authorize a new maritime mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The plan includes potential use of force to deter Houthi attacks, according to Europe-wide discussions cited by Europa Press.
European leaders emphasized that the operation would require a solid legal basis and unanimous support among the Twenty-Seven before it proceeds to formal authorization. The mission is expected to take shape in February, with officials outlining an active, capable role rather than a simple escort for vessels.
Josep Borrell stated that a clear operational mandate would define the force’s responsibilities, including robust measures to deter threats and protect maritime traffic. The emphasis is on a proactive, not passive, posture that aligns with international law and collective security commitments.