Albares: Military force alone cannot bring security in Middle East

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares argued on Tuesday that military force alone cannot guarantee security in the Middle East, insisting that Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese all have a right to a secure state – a "minimum" requirement. Speaking at a Bruegel think-tank event in Brussels, Albares addressed the Gaza conflict, the Iran crisis, and Europe's perceived double standards.

Key points

• Right to security: Albares stated that "security never comes solely from military force" and that Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon all deserve security within their own states Source: Infobae.
• European hypocrisy: He acknowledged a perception among Global South countries thatEurope only cares about victims with light skin, adding that Palestinians and Lebanese should not pay for Europe's historical traumas Source: Diario Libre.
• No military solution for Ormuz: Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Albares said "there is no military solution" and called for negotiation and dialogue Source: Infobae.
• Danger of regime change: He warned that "regime change is always a very dangerous concept," advocating for internal change rather than external force Source: Diario Libre.

Albares proposed a three-step approach: first, ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz; second, achieve a "real and consistent" ceasefire respecting Lebanon's territorial integrity; and third, address Iran's nuclear program. He admitted that current mistrust is "enormous" but believed a negotiated solution is possible Source: Infobae.