Spain has halted the license of Israeli defense firm Rafael’s Spanish subsidiary, Pap Tecnos, to produce 168 Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles.
The missiles were intended for the Spanish Army and Marine Corps under a 285-million-euro ($325 million) contract announced in October 2023 but not yet formalized.
Spanish news agency EFE reported that Madrid has decided to revoke the contract and is currently evaluating how to redirect the program.
Government spokesperson Pilar Alegría explained that the move aims at a complete break with Israeli military technology.
Spain’s Pressure on Israel
Spain, a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, is pushing for more decisive EU action, including a halt to arms sales to Israel.
Last month, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares hosted representatives from 20 European and Arab countries in Madrid for a meeting to find diplomatic solutions to end the conflict.
During the gathering, Albares called for an immediate suspension of the EU-Israel cooperation agreement and urged other EU states to adopt similar measures.
A month earlier, the Spanish government moved to cancel a 6.8-million-euro ($7.7 million) contract for bullet purchases from Israeli company IMI Systems.
Spain has previously taken several steps reflecting a more assertive stance on the conflict in Gaza and its diplomatic approach toward Israel.
In June last year, the country became the first European nation to seek participation in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In May 2024, Madrid formally recognized the Palestinian state, joining Norway and Ireland in a coordinated diplomatic move that drew sharp criticism from Israel, which recently warned of potential unilateral responses.
