Spain joins US-led procurement initiative for Ukraine
Spain has taken a significant step towards bolstering its support for Ukraine by expressing its intention to participate in an international military procurement scheme initiated by the United States.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that his country is actively exploring ways to contribute to the PURL framework—a mechanism through which allies pool resources and coordinate joint purchasing of weapons from the US for Ukraine.
Sánchez emphasized that Spain is a committed member of NATO and remains unwavering in its dedication to defending and supporting Ukraine at all levels.
He noted that Spain has been carefully examining the logistics and opportunities for participation in this initiative over the past few weeks since its launch, aiming to maximize its contribution through collaborative effort.
This move comes amid heightened international focus on Ukraine’s military aid, especially following former US President Donald Trump’s criticism of European defense spending.
It remains unclear how much funding Madrid will allocate to the PURL program.
According to last week’s reports after the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, the majority of allies have already signed on to the initiative by committing to joint aid packages.
The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada have combined their contributions into four packages worth $500 million each.
Additionally, Estonia, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, and Luxembourg have pledged support but have yet to finalize their contribution packages.
Previously, NATO countries that did not endorse the PURL initiative faced diplomatic pressure, notably the UK and France, which aim to maintain autonomy over their military procurement decisions.