Spain is set to terminate a €287.4 million agreement to procure Spike anti-tank missiles, referred to as Gil missiles in the IDF, from Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, El Mundo reported on Wednesday. The decision comes amid scraps plans for local production in Spain and comes on the heels of a strategic move to cut defense ties with Jerusalem due to the ongoing criticism over the Israeli conduct of the war in Gaza. Spain has recently called for sanctions on Israel as a means of pressuring it to end the war, and has recognized Palestinian statehood. Just days ago Barcelona ended its friendship agreement with Tel Aviv for the same reasons.
According to the local defense ministry sources cited by El Mundo, "A deliberate process is in place to phase out Israeli technology gradually." The outlet labeled this shift a "formidable challenge" for Spain's defense sector. The deal encompassed 168 Spike missiles, with a Spanish company originally slated to produce them under license.
Sources within the Defense Ministry told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that "a process is underway for the gradual cancellation of Israeli technology," which the publication described as a "significant challenge."
Defense Minister Margarita Robles canceled the contract that was awarded in October 2023 to Pap Tecnos, a Spanish subsidiary of Rafael, for the production of the missiles in question. The deal included 168 launchers, 1,680 Spike LR2 missiles, and logistical support for the equipment.
According to reports, Spain is now considering purchasing American Javelin missiles manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin instead of the Israeli missiles.
Spain's government ranks among the most hostile toward Israel within the European Union. During the war, Spain declared an arms embargo on Israel, refused ships sailing to Israel permission to dock at its ports, and recognized a Palestinian state. About two weeks ago, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called Israel a "murderous state."
In April, Sanchez announced the unilateral cancellation of a contract worth €6.6 million ($7.1 million) for the purchase of more than 15 million bullets from Israel Military Industries (IMI Systems). However, shortly afterward, El Mundo revealed that despite the declarations, defense contracts between Spain and Israel worth more than €1 billion ($1.08 billion) had been signed since the beginning of the war.
The Spanish government declared it intends to sever security ties with Israel, but this effort faces difficulties due to the centrality of the Israeli arms industry. The cancellations come against the backdrop of one of the Spanish government's biggest crises. On the one hand, Spain is required to increase defense spending to meet NATO targets, especially in light of President Donald Trump's demand that European countries meet their commitments. On the other hand, increasing the defense budget has sparked outrage among far-left parties in the coalition, which oppose investing money in security and declare that contracts with Israeli companies will lead to their withdrawal from Sanchez's already fragile coalition.
"It's impossible to stop buying Israeli technology, it will make us a vulnerable country," a Spanish general who was interviewed anonymously by El Mundo said at the time. According to the general, "ending contracts or not signing additional contracts with Israel will delay and slow down the modernization plans of our security forces. The bottom line is that Spain will be more vulnerable if it stops buying Israeli technology."
Israel responded to the contract cancellations several weeks ago and condemned "the Spanish government's decision to cancel a signed contract with defense company IMI Systems." The statement said that "the Spanish government is sacrificing security matters for political considerations and continues to stand on the wrong side of history, against the Jewish state defending itself from terror attacks on seven fronts."
