Controversies over the Gaza conflict surfacing during diplomatic visit for membership
In a significant diplomatic encounter, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid on Friday. The discussion covered a range of contentious topics, including the ongoing Gaza conflict, European defense policy, and economic and energy policy.
The meeting, Merz's inaugural visit to Spain, was marked by disagreements over the Gaza conflict. Merz expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing ground offensive by Israeli forces against Gaza City. In contrast, Sánchez has been one of the EU's harshest critics of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Sánchez has repeatedly accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Palestinian territory. However, Merz acknowledged that the German government and the Spanish government have different views on the matter.
The current situation on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, a joint endeavour between Germany, France, and Spain to develop a European combat jet, was also a point of concern for Merz. He described the project's status as "unsatisfactory". The dispute on the FCAS project involves the influence of the French defense conglomerate Dassault.
The deadline for clarifying the way forward for the FCAS was pushed back from the end of August to the end of the year. Both Merz and Sánchez emphasized the need to reach a solution by the end of the year on the project. As of September 2025, there are no publicly available recent statements or detailed positions from the Partido Popular regarding the development of the joint FCAS fighter jet program.
On the economic front, both leaders discussed energy policy. Spain, unlike Germany, does not currently plan to recognize an independent Palestinian state. However, Sánchez praised pro-Palestinian protesters who forced the cancellation of the final stage of the Spanish cycling tour La Vuelta.
In a separate issue, Merz admonished Sánchez to increase defense spending, as Spain was the NATO country with the lowest defense spending as a percentage of GDP last year, falling far short of the alliance's previous two-percent target. This year, Spain is set to reach the two-percent defense spending target.
Despite the disagreements, Merz associates Spain with "some of the most beautiful childhood memories". The two leaders agreed to continue their dialogue in the future, focusing on finding common ground and working towards mutual goals.
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