MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Friday that Spain had no intention of intervening militarily in the Red Sea region out of a “commitment to peace” and that countries that intervened must be held accountable for their actions. He said it would not be possible.
Mr. Robles spoke after the United States and Britain launched attacks on Yemen overnight in response to attacks by Houthi militants on Red Sea shipping lanes.
“Every country must explain its actions. Spain will always be committed to peace and dialogue,” he told reporters.
At the same time, Spain said it was not judging other countries’ actions.
Robles reiterated Madrid’s decision not to take part in the US-led naval operation to protect ships in the Red Sea, which is already working on other missions such as the European Union’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean. She described it as follows: “Very demanding.”
“The EU may decide to carry out the (naval) mission in the coming days. It remains to be seen whether the mission will be approved or not, but in the meantime Spain’s position from a sense of responsibility and responsibility is clear. The commitment to peace means not intervening in the Red Sea. ”
Her comments could cause further rifts between EU member states over how to resolve the conflict that has roiled the Middle East since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October. suggested that.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, claimed the actions in the Red Sea were supporting Hamas.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Angus MacSwan)