Miguel Moratinos, the Spanish Foreign Minister, expressed the opinion that despite his country's decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq at the earliest possible opportunity, the close relationship between Madrid and Washington will be maintained. Mr. Moratinos, speaking in an interview with Spanish radio, stated that hours before this decision was announced by the Prime Minister of Spain, he informed Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, of such a decision. Mr. Moratinos is scheduled to travel to Washington tomorrow for discussions with Mr. Powell. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain, had previously stated that if the Spanish troops deployed to Iraq were not placed under the command of the United Nations by June 30, he would issue orders for their return. However, he said yesterday that there were no signs that the United Nations would issue a resolution to meet Spain's conditions for continuing the deployment of its 1,300 troops in Iraq.
Statements by the Spanish Foreign Minister on Madrid-Washington Relations - 2004-04-19
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos stated that despite Spain's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq, relations with the U.S. will remain strong. He informed U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell prior to the public announcement of this decision. This situation highlights the complexities of international military cooperation and the role of the UN.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Spain's Foreign Minister announced that the country will withdraw its troops from Iraq while maintaining strong relations with the U.S. He informed the U.S. Secretary of State before the public announcement.
- Spain has 1,300 troops deployed in Iraq.
- The withdrawal is contingent on the UN taking command of the troops by June 30.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iraq War, initiated in 2003, saw many countries, including Spain, contribute troops. The UN's role in international military operations has been a contentious issue.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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