25 October 2004

MADRID-Relations between Spain and the United States hit a new low Monday after the head of the Spanish military attacked the way Washington used Spain.

General Felix Sanz Roldan claimed: "We give a lot but receive little."

The general said during the Iraq war, while Spanish forces supported the US-led invasion, American forces carried out 8,000 air operations and 850 operations by sea in Spanish air space and waters.

Sanz Roldan, speaking during a conference about Spanish armed forces, said the relationship with the US was "curious".

He said that the relations between the two countries should be more equal.

Sanz Roldan's comments come after a row between Madrid and Washington over Spain's National Day, which was celebrated on 12 October with a large military parade in the capital.

But the Socialist government of prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero refused to invite US troops and instead asked French forces to take part in the parade.

As a mark of protest, the US ambassador failed to attend the parade, then later explained his absence was because of the government's decision not to ask American forces.

Relations between Madrid and Washington have deteriorated since Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq as soon as he came to power in April.

Though both sides claim that relations are healthy, Zapatero is keen to bring Spain closer to European allies France and Germany than to the US.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news