Rep. Carlos A. Giménez, a Florida Republican, resigned as co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, accusing the Spanish government of pursuing hostile policies toward Israel.
Giménez announced his withdrawal in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, citing escalating tensions between Madrid and Israel over military cooperation and diplomatic restrictions. The decision marks another flashpoint in growing disputes among Western allies regarding the Middle East conflict.
What Prompted the Move
Giménez accused Spain’s government of crossing from legitimate policy disagreement into what he called antisemitic rhetoric. He specifically criticized Madrid’s reported decision to prohibit Israeli Defense Forces members and certain Israeli officials from entering the country.
The congressman also cited Spain’s restrictions on military cooperation with Israel, including arms embargoes and limits on defense transportation. “To bar the brave men and women of the IDF … while your political apparatus simultaneously legitimizes terrorist networks and accommodationist policies, is a betrayal of Western values,” Giménez wrote in his letter to Sánchez.
Giménez further argued that Spain has moved beyond humanitarian concerns and now enables organizations seeking Israel’s destruction, placing the country “firmly on the wrong side of the global fight for freedom.”
The Congressman’s Position
As a Cuban-American and self-described defender of democracy, Giménez said he did not make the decision lightly, given Spain’s historical and economic ties to the United States and South Florida. He noted his career-long work to strengthen bilateral relations between the nations.
However, Giménez contended that the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus exists to celebrate shared democratic values-principles he argued the Sánchez government no longer upholds. “I can no longer lend my name to an organization intended to celebrate bilateral friendship while your government actively works to undermine democratic principles,” he wrote.
Broader Context
Giménez’s resignation reflects widening divisions among Western allies over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Several European governments have adopted more critical stances toward Israel’s military operations, drawing both international support and opposition.
Spain has emerged among European nations taking a harder line on Israeli conduct during the conflict, with government officials citing humanitarian concerns and international law. “I remain hopeful that Spain will one day return to a foreign policy rooted in the defense of Western allies and moral clarity against terrorism,” Giménez wrote.
