Madrid protests leaving Spanish defense firms out of NATO plans

Government's stance will not change until those companies are included in NATO plans, say Spanish officials

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) – The Spanish government on Thursday protested NATO for not including Spanish companies in their defense industry plans, according to media reports.

In protest, Defense Minister Margarita Robles did not attend the morning session of the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, concerning the European and North American defense industry.

Robles will attend other sessions, according to sources.

Spanish government officials told local media outlets that they reject the non-inclusion of Spanish companies in plans to boost investments.

The government's stance will not change until those companies are included in NATO plans, they added.

Spanish Defense Ministry sources who asked to remain anonymous said that NATO made a bad start and is far from inclusion and transparency.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara

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