Spain styles itself as Israel's most fervent adversary, but its sanctions are far from comprehensive

What Happened

On 23 September 2025, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez approved a law imposing an arms embargo on Israel and prohibiting imports from occupied Palestinian territories. This measure was formalized via Royal Decree-Law 10/2025 on 8 October 2025. Despite these legislative actions, the Delas Centre for Peace Studies reported that Spain imported €36.7m in military equipment from Israel between October 2023 and February 2025. Analysts including Eirene de Prada and Alejandro Pozo claim the government continues to utilize loopholes, such as pre-existing contracts and exceptions for aeronautical projects involving Airbus and Elbit Systems, to maintain defense-related trade.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The discrepancy between Spain's diplomatic stance and its continued defense-related trade highlights the complexities of enforcing unilateral arms embargoes against Israel. The situation illustrates how pre-existing contracts, industrial partnerships, and subsidiary manufacturing networks allow states to maintain military-industrial ties even when formal political relations are strained.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Spanish government closes loopholes in Royal Decree-Law 10/2025 or if further exceptions are granted for defense-related industrial projects. Additionally, observe if other nations follow the precedent of Colombia's coal export ban or if they continue to prioritize WTO non-discrimination principles over the legal obligations cited by international law experts regarding the occupation of Palestine.