Spain Withdraw Troops from Iraq

The Spanish government, which dispatched 1,300 or more troops to Iraq, dealt a hard blow to the U.S. policy on Iraq by announcing on April 18 that it would withdraw its troops from Iraq within 15 days.

“I ordered the Minister of National Defense to take all the actions necessary for withdrawing Spanish troops in the quickest and safest way,” said Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in a television appearance.

He revealed the reasons for withdrawal of troops by saying, “The precondition for the stationing of Spanish troops was the U.N.’s securing of political and military control in Iraq. However, when considering the situation of the last few weeks and other information, it seems not possible for the U.N. to conclude a proper resolution in the near future.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt confirmed on that day that Spanish government officially notified its will to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq within 15 days to the Egyptian government.

Foreign news conveyed that the withdrawal of Spain, which is one of the closest alliances of the U.S., is expected to upset the U.S. military strategy in Iraq and its plan for stabilization of Iraq.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain’s new minister of Foreign Affairs, is planning to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in Washington on April 21 to explain the reasons of withdrawal and discuss Spain’s role afterwards, such as training of Iraqi police or support for reconstruction.

Seung-Jin Kim sarafina@donga.com