Spain shocks India and Israel. Spain refused to allow a ship carrying a shipment of weapons from India to Israel to dock at its port. Spain’s Foreign Minister stated, “The Middle East does not need more weapons; it needs more peace.” Spain has been very critical of Israel’s attacks in Gaza.
New Delhi: Spain has refused to call a Danish-flagged commercial ship loaded with “27 tons of explosive material from India to Israel” to the port, saying that the Middle East needs “peace, not more weapons.”
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno told reporters in Brussels, “This is the first time we have done this because it is the first time we have located a ship carrying weapons to Israel, which wants to call at a Spanish port.”
He said the ship in question was the Maersk Danica, which had requested permission to dock in Cartagena on May 21.
Commercial ships traveling long distances are required to seek permission to call at ports.
“We have located this ship, we have refused permission to dock, and I can tell you that there will be a consistent policy with any ship carrying Israeli weapons and cargo that wants to dock at Spanish ports,” he said. Media reports from Spain said.
According to a report in The Guardian, El Pais newspaper said that the Danish-flagged ship is carrying 27 tons of explosive material from Chennai, India, to the port of Haifa, Israel.
Incidentally, Chennai is one of the major port cities through which India imports and exports goods related to explosives.
Commenting further on the matter, the Spanish Foreign Minister said, “It will be a consistent policy for any ship carrying weapons to Israel that wants to call at Spanish ports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will systematically reject such stopovers for a clear reason: the Middle East does not need more weapons; it needs more peace.”
Spain : In reaction to Israel’s criticism of Spain for its activities in Gaza, Spain is urging other European countries to recognize the state of Palestine .
After the Israeli military began its assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Spain halted the sale of weapons to Israel.
While India is Israel’s largest defense buyer, it’s understood that Israel is sourcing many military-related items from India, including participation from Israeli firms in ventures with state-owned enterprises and private companies in India.
The military-related gear includes fuses, along with a comprehensive range of drone structures, and at least two private firms in India are entirely involved in the assembly of military equipment.
According to Israeli sources cited by Reuters in February, “Israeli operations have created a growing need for explosives . India is actively exploring a number of export prospects while sharply concentrating on increasing its defense output.
Sources from defense and security establishments denied details of whether India is exporting military-related equipment and materials to Israel but stated that there are no violations of international regulations and norms regarding the transfer of such goods anywhere.