Spain to increase Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine, foreign minister says
Spain will increase deliveries of missiles for Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced on 3 September at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. The announcement followed a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on 2 September, during which Albares confirmed the increase and recalled Spain's role as a co-founder of a new air defence coalition for Ukraine.
Key points
- Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced increased Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine on 3 September at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Ireland.
- The announcement followed Albares's bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on 2 September.
- Spain joined as a co-founder of a new air defence coalition for Ukraine in late August.
- Madrid recently signed a $1.7 billion contract with U.S. company Raytheon to modernise Spain's own Patriot systems.
- Some Patriot components are produced in Spain by the Spanish company Sener.
- Spanish military personnel train Ukrainian specialists to service Patriot systems.
- Ukraine has separately requested EU financing of more than €2 billion for PAC-3 missiles through a €90 billion European loan mechanism.
Why it matters
Spain is increasing its military air defence contribution to Ukraine, adding to broader European efforts to supply Patriot missile systems amid ongoing Russian aerial attacks. The move comes as the EU and NATO press countries with significant Patriot stocks — specifically Spain and Greece — to transfer interceptors to Ukraine, and as Kyiv seeks more than €2 billion in EU financing for PAC-3 missiles.
What happened
Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced on 3 September that Spain will increase deliveries of missiles for Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. He made the announcement at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, a day after holding a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on 2 September. During that meeting, Albares confirmed the increase and recalled Spain's participation, alongside other countries, in a new air defence coalition for Ukraine, of which Spain has been a co-founder since late August.
Separately, Madrid has signed a $1.7 billion contract with U.S. company Raytheon to modernise Spain's own Patriot systems, some of which are partially produced in Spain by the Spanish company Sener. Spanish military personnel also train Ukrainian specialists to service the systems.
Background
The announcement follows a series of developments around Patriot missile supplies to Ukraine. On 25 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had received a small batch of Patriot missiles as well as AIM missiles for NASAMS systems and confirmation regarding Crotale air defence systems. On 31 August, Euronews reported that the European Commission planned to pressure EU countries with significant Patriot missile stocks — specifically Greece and Spain — to transfer them to Ukraine. On 1 September, Bloomberg reported that the EU and NATO were calling on Spain and Greece to transfer Patriot interceptors. On 2 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine had officially requested EU financing of €90 billion for PAC-3 missile purchases, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed ongoing U.S.-Ukraine talks on Patriot missile licences.