Spain Buys Israeli Military Tech Despite Calling for Arms Embargo

Spain’s vocal calls to impose an arms embargo on Israel over its war in Gaza have come under sharp scrutiny after a new report revealed that Madrid is quietly moving forward with a major defense deal with Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Despite canceling some ammunition contracts in 2024 and promising a freeze on military cooperation, Spain’s Defense Ministry is now actively purchasing Israeli tactical radio communication systems valued at hundreds of millions of euros. According to the exposé by Spanish outlet El Mundo, the deal is embedded in the 2025 defense budget and was justified by royal decree, bypassing earlier political commitments.

The initial phase of the contract is worth €350 million ($393 million), with a total projected value reaching €768 million ($862 million). Already, 1,500 Israeli-made radio units have been delivered, with an additional 3,500 scheduled to arrive within the next year part of an overall order of 11,000 systems.

This deal, while politically delayed due to pressure from Spain’s far-left ruling coalition factions, has continued to progress behind the scenes. The government cited a lack of domestic industrial capacity to justify the decision, calling it a temporary measure to bridge technological gaps in national defense capabilities.

For many observers, the move exposes a glaring contradiction: a government that publicly decries Israeli actions while simultaneously relying on Israeli technology to ensure its own military readiness. The optics are especially troubling given Spain’s earlier declarations of solidarity with Gaza and efforts to distance itself from Israeli defense operations.

The episode reflects a broader truth that often goes unspoken when it comes to critical defense needs, Israeli innovation remains unmatched. Even those who criticize Israel find themselves depending on its military technologies, whether for security, communications, or intelligence.

In the end, actions speak louder than words. Spain’s backdoor dealings affirm what many already know: Israel is not only a global leader in defense innovation, but also an indispensable partner even to those who publicly rebuke it.

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