Spanish King Visits Egypt Against the Backdrop of Tensions with Israel

Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first state visit to Cairo on September 16, 2025, at a moment of heightened diplomatic tension between Madrid and Jerusalem over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The visit, at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares and State Secretary for Trade María Amparo López Senovilla, coincides with Spain’s increasingly vocal condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

During an official reception, King Felipe stressed that Spain and Egypt share “a desire that we firmly hold: for peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and reconciliation in the Middle East that will ultimately allow for a stable environment for the development of peoples with dignity and justice,” as reported by The Diplomat. He acknowledged that achieving this goal “at the moment seems like a utopia, but it must be possible, and we must all contribute to making it so.”

The King addressed the ongoing suffering in Gaza, describing the situation as “unspeakable” and highlighting “the total devastation of Gaza”. Spain has emerged as one of the most outspoken European critics of Israeli actions, formalizing recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024 and supporting mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Madrid, which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised for raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis. As noted by the BBC, Sánchez also floated barring Israel from international sporting competitions, stating that “Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image.”

Diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel have deteriorated sharply. The friction extends to military cooperation: the Spanish government canceled a €700 million contract for Israeli-designed SILAM rocket launchers, which would have included 12 systems derived from Elbit Systems’ PULS platform. Israel was slated to receive €150 million from the deal. Prime Minister Sánchez announced that Spain will consolidate in law a ban on military equipment sales or purchases involving Israel. Earlier this month, Madrid also banned extreme right-wing Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory. 

The Spanish state visit highlights Madrid’s commitment to strategic engagement with Egypt – which shares a border with Israel as well as the Gaza Strip. King Felipe and Queen Letizia are scheduled for official meetings with President Al Sisi and his wife at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, as well as visits to Spanish economic, cultural, and scientific initiatives, including archaeological missions in Cairo and Luxor. The Diplomat reports that the Spanish-Egyptian Business Forum will also convene to bolster bilateral trade relations. The Spanish community in Egypt, comprising roughly 1,000 residents, includes diplomats, NGO workers, and personnel in international organizations such as the IMF, UNESCO, and FAO.