Military Easter yesterday recovered all the shine lost by the pandemic. Without capacity restrictions –or masks–, Felipe VI kicked off the military year in an act marked by the war in Ukraine. Before the military leadership, the head of state warned that the Russian invasion has “seriously altered the international order” and has put European security “at serious risk”. Thus, to face this threat, Felipe VI defended the “importance” of investing more in defense, as the Government committed to NATO.
Dressed in the uniform of the captain general of the Air and Space Army, Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrived yesterday at the Plaza de la Armería in Madrid, in front of the Royal Palace, at noon. There they were received by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez; the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles; and the head of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Felipe VI reviewed the Royal Guard before greeting the 169 guests who this time attended the event in which the previous year is reviewed and the military guidelines of the new one are drawn.
If last year the evacuation from Afghanistan and the La Palma volcano were protagonists, yesterday everything revolved around the Russian invasion, which Felipe VI described as “unjustifiable, illegal and brutal”. To then make express reference to the “significant increase” earmarked for military investment included in the general state budget. “The war has made evident the importance of investing,” said the King, who warned that now the challenge is to acquire the means to achieve more “modern and effective” armed forces.
The Defense Minister, who preceded her to speak, already hoisted the banner of increased military spending in her speech. Robles highlighted “the important effort” that the central Executive has made to increase the capabilities of the armed forces. The increase responds to the commitment acquired by Spain during the NATO summit in Madrid, which is to reach 2% of GDP in 2029. This year’s budget amounts to 12,825 million euros, which represents a 25.8% increase over the previous year. For Robles, this represents a “decided” commitment to the Spanish industry and the creation of jobs.
An argument that has never convinced United We Can, despite the fact that public criticism has subsided over this matter in recent months. It was not the case yesterday. The parliamentary spokesman for the purples, Pablo Echenique, criticized Felipe VI’s words on Twitter: “The King asks to spend more public money on bombs and weapons. He is very clear about the model of the country that he defends ”.
