Donate
Spain
Nuclear-weapon endorser
Has not yet joined the TPNW
Status
Spain has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
National position
Spain has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the TPNW and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”.
Spain supports the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated by its endorsement of various alliance statements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), of which it is a member.
Political developments
Ahead of Spain’s general election in July 2023, the Sumar political party pledged: “We will lead international efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, promoting the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons …”
In 2020, the foreign affairs committee of Spain’s congress of deputies passed a resolution welcoming the TPNW’s negotiation and adoption “as an effort to move towards peace, security and disarmament”.
As part of a deal with the political party Podemos in 2018, the Spanish government committed to sign the TPNW. The deal was struck between the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, and the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias. However, no action was taken.
Three former Spanish foreign ministers – Ana Palacio, Javier Solana and Carlos Westendorp – co-signed an open letter in 2020 calling on current leaders to “show courage and boldness – and join the [TPNW]”. Solana was also a secretary-general of NATO.
Dozens of Spanish cities, including Barcelona, have urged the Spanish government to sign and ratify the treaty.
ICAN campaigners meet with the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, in 2020 to seek her city’s support for the TPNW. Photo: Ada Colau
Public opinion
A public opinion poll conducted by YouGov in 2020 found that 89 per cent of Spaniards believe that their country should join the TPNW, with just 4 per cent opposed to joining. Furthermore, 78 per cent believe that Spain should be among the first NATO states to join, even if it faced pressure from allies not to do so.
TPNW negotiations
Spain did not participate in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption. Ahead of the adoption, the foreign affairs committee of Spain’s congress of deputies passed a resolution calling on the government to support the approval of the new treaty.
Around the same time, the Catalan parliament’s foreign affairs committee also passed a resolution calling on the Spanish government to participate in the treaty negotiations and support the treaty’s adoption.
In 2016, Spain voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
In a document sent to NATO members ahead of the vote, the United States “strongly encourage[d]” members, including Spain, to vote against the resolution, “not to merely abstain”. In addition, it said that, if the treaty negotiations do commence, allies and partners should “refrain from joining them”.
Nuclear-weapon endorser
Has not yet joined the TPNW
[HIGHLIGHTS]
Status
Spain has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
National position
Spain has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the TPNW and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”.
Spain supports the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated by its endorsement of various alliance statements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), of which it is a member.
Political developments
Ahead of Spain’s general election in July 2023, the Sumar political party pledged: “We will lead international efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, promoting the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons …”
In 2020, the foreign affairs committee of Spain’s congress of deputies passed a resolution welcoming the TPNW’s negotiation and adoption “as an effort to move towards peace, security and disarmament”.
As part of a deal with the political party Podemos in 2018, the Spanish government committed to sign the TPNW. The deal was struck between the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, and the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias. However, no action was taken.
Three former Spanish foreign ministers – Ana Palacio, Javier Solana and Carlos Westendorp – co-signed an open letter in 2020 calling on current leaders to “show courage and boldness – and join the [TPNW]”. Solana was also a secretary-general of NATO.
Dozens of Spanish cities, including Barcelona, have urged the Spanish government to sign and ratify the treaty.
ICAN campaigners meet with the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, in 2020 to seek her city’s support for the TPNW. Photo: Ada Colau
Public opinion
A public opinion poll conducted by YouGov in 2020 found that 89 per cent of Spaniards believe that their country should join the TPNW, with just 4 per cent opposed to joining. Furthermore, 78 per cent believe that Spain should be among the first NATO states to join, even if it faced pressure from allies not to do so.
TPNW negotiations
Spain did not participate in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption. Ahead of the adoption, the foreign affairs committee of Spain’s congress of deputies passed a resolution calling on the government to support the approval of the new treaty.
Around the same time, the Catalan parliament’s foreign affairs committee also passed a resolution calling on the Spanish government to participate in the treaty negotiations and support the treaty’s adoption.
In 2016, Spain voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
In a document sent to NATO members ahead of the vote, the United States “strongly encourage[d]” members, including Spain, to vote against the resolution, “not to merely abstain”. In addition, it said that, if the treaty negotiations do commence, allies and partners should “refrain from joining them”.
[PARTNERS]
Centre d'Estudis per a la Pau JM Delis
Fundacio per la Pau
Mundo sin guerras y sin Violencia
Spanish Medical Association for the Prevention of Nuclear War
Comisión General de Justicia y Paz
Escola de Cultura de Pau (School for a Culture of Peace)
[LOCALSUPPORT]
Local support Get involved with ICAN in this country ›
ICAN Cities Appeal
These are the cities and towns in this country speaking out in support of the TPNW:
A Coruña
Aiguafreda
Alcoy
Alcudia
Alzira
Barcelona
Begues
Binissalem
Cádiz
Cambados
Canovelles
Castellar del Vallès
Castellbisbal
Castelldefels
Castiello de Jaca
Cervera
Cubelles
Diputació de Barcelona
Esplugues de Llobregat
Ferrol
Figueres
Gavà
Gelida
Girona
Granollers
Guadalajara
Igualada
La Garriga
Les Franqueses del Vallès
Lleida
Lliçà d'Amunt
Lloret de Mar
Masllorenç
Molins de Rei
Mollet del Vallès
Monreal del Campo
Montmeló
Palau d’Anglesola
Prats de Lluçanès
Sabadell
Sant Boi de Llobregat
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Sant Feliu de Codines
Sant Feliu de Llobregat
Sant Just Desvern
Sant Martí de Tous
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Santiago de Compostela
Sevilla
Sitges
Tarragona
Terrassa
Teruel
Tona
Ulldecona
Vallromanes
Viladecans
Vilafranca del Penedès
Vilanova i la Geltrú
Vilassar de Dalt
Zaragoza
ICAN Parliamentary Pledge
These are the elected representatives in this country that support and promote the TPNW:
Congress of Deputies
Joseba Andoni Aguirretxea Urresti
Nagua Alba
Félix Alonso Cantorné
Rosa Ana Alonso Clusa
Pedro Arrojo Agudo
Joan Baldoví
Teresa Arévalo
Ángela Ballester Muñoz
Enric Bataller i Ruiz
Marian Beitialarrangoitia Lizarralde
Ferrán Salvador Bel Accensi
Ione Belarra
Carolina Bescansa
Rita Bosaho
Amparo Botejara Sanz
Miguel Ángel Bustamante Martín
Pablo Bustinduy
Carles Campuzano
Diego Cañamero
Ignasi Candela Serna
Joan Capdevila i Esteve
José David Carracedo Verde
Sara Carreño Valero
Lourdes Ciuró i Buldó
María Asunción de la Concha García-Mauriño
Juan Antonio Delgado Ramos
Yolanda Díaz Pérez
Xavier Eritja Ciuró
Marcelo Expósito Prieto
Sònia Farré Fidalgo
Miguel Anxo Fernández Bello
Sofía Fernández Castañón
Alexandra Fernández Gómez
Isabel Franco
Ricardo García Mira
Eva García Sempere
Alberto Garzón Espinosa
Anton Gómez-Reino
Segundo González García
Txema Guijarro García
Feliu Guillaumes i Ràfols
Pablo Iglesias Turrión
Jorge Luis Bail
Ana Marcello Santos
Joan Margall Sastre
Oskar Matute
Rafael Mayoral Perales
Joan Mena Arca
Sergi Miquel i Valentí
Irene Montero
Alberto Montero Soler
Jaume Moya Matas
Miriam Nogueras
Juan Manuel del Olmo Ibáñez
Joan Olòriz Serra
Sergio Pascual
Rosana Pastor
Antoni Postius Terrado
Pedro Quevedo Iturbe
Ángela Rodríguez Martínez
Alberto Rodríguez Rodríguez
Gabriel Rufián Romero
Jordi Salvador i Duch
Tania Sánchez Melero
Javier Sánchez Serna
Eduardo Santos Itoiz
Marta Sibina Camps
Ricardo Sixto Iglesias
Marta Sorlí Fresquet
Joan Tardá
Carolina Telechea
Ana Terrón Berbel
Juan López de Uralde
Carmen Valido Pérez
Josep Vendrell Gardeñes
Miguel Vila Gámez
Noelia Vera Ruiz-Herrera
Aina Vidal Sáez
Raimundo Viejo
Jordi Xuclà i Costa
Juan Pedro Yllanes Suárez
Maria Dantas
Marta Rosique i Saltor
Senate
Vanessa Angustia Gómez
José Ramón Arrieta Arrieta
Joan Comorera
María Freixanet Mateo
Óscar Guardingo Martínez
Pilar Lima
María José López Santana
Carles Mulet
Jordi Navarrete
María Concepción Palencia García
Idoia Villanueva Ruiz
Sara Bailac Ardanuy
Ana María Surra Spadea
Laura Castel I Fort
Xavier Castellana i Gamisans
Adelina Escandell Grases
Spain National Assembly
Hugo Martínez Abarca
Parliament of Catalonia
Alfons Montserrat
Eduardo Reyes i Pino
Jenn Díaz
Lluïsa Llop Fernàndez
Marc Sanglas
Ernest Maragall I Mira
Ferran Civit i Martí
Mònica Palacín París
Alba Metge i Climent
Francesc Viaplana Manresa
European Parliament
Miguel Urbán
Ernest Urtasun
Jordi Solé i Ferrando
Diana Riba i Giner
Jordi Solé i Ferrando
No events yet
Related news View all news ›
Local support Get involved with ICAN in this country ›
ICAN Cities Appeal
These are the cities and towns in this country speaking out in support of the TPNW:
A Coruña
Aiguafreda
Alcoy
Alcudia
Alzira
Barcelona
Begues
Binissalem
Cádiz
Cambados
Canovelles
Castellar del Vallès
Castellbisbal
Castelldefels
Castiello de Jaca
Cervera
Cubelles
Diputació de Barcelona
Esplugues de Llobregat
Ferrol
Figueres
Gavà
Gelida
Girona
Granollers
Guadalajara
Igualada
La Garriga
Les Franqueses del Vallès
Lleida
Lliçà d'Amunt
Lloret de Mar
Masllorenç
Molins de Rei
Mollet del Vallès
Monreal del Campo
Montmeló
Palau d’Anglesola
Prats de Lluçanès
Sabadell
Sant Boi de Llobregat
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Sant Feliu de Codines
Sant Feliu de Llobregat
Sant Just Desvern
Sant Martí de Tous
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Santiago de Compostela
Sevilla
Sitges
Tarragona
Terrassa
Teruel
Tona
Ulldecona
Vallromanes
Viladecans
Vilafranca del Penedès
Vilanova i la Geltrú
Vilassar de Dalt
Zaragoza
ICAN Parliamentary Pledge
These are the elected representatives in this country that support and promote the TPNW:
Congress of Deputies
Joseba Andoni Aguirretxea Urresti
Nagua Alba
Félix Alonso Cantorné
Rosa Ana Alonso Clusa
Pedro Arrojo Agudo
Joan Baldoví
Teresa Arévalo
Ángela Ballester Muñoz
Enric Bataller i Ruiz
Marian Beitialarrangoitia Lizarralde
Ferrán Salvador Bel Accensi
Ione Belarra
Carolina Bescansa
Rita Bosaho
Amparo Botejara Sanz
Miguel Ángel Bustamante Martín
Pablo Bustinduy
Carles Campuzano
Diego Cañamero
Ignasi Candela Serna
Joan Capdevila i Esteve
José David Carracedo Verde
Sara Carreño Valero
Lourdes Ciuró i Buldó
María Asunción de la Concha García-Mauriño
Juan Antonio Delgado Ramos
Yolanda Díaz Pérez
Xavier Eritja Ciuró
Marcelo Expósito Prieto
Sònia Farré Fidalgo
Miguel Anxo Fernández Bello
Sofía Fernández Castañón
Alexandra Fernández Gómez
Isabel Franco
Ricardo García Mira
Eva García Sempere
Alberto Garzón Espinosa
Anton Gómez-Reino
Segundo González García
Txema Guijarro García
Feliu Guillaumes i Ràfols
Pablo Iglesias Turrión
Jorge Luis Bail
Ana Marcello Santos
Joan Margall Sastre
Oskar Matute
Rafael Mayoral Perales
Joan Mena Arca
Sergi Miquel i Valentí
Irene Montero
Alberto Montero Soler
Jaume Moya Matas
Miriam Nogueras
Juan Manuel del Olmo Ibáñez
Joan Olòriz Serra
Sergio Pascual
Rosana Pastor
Antoni Postius Terrado
Pedro Quevedo Iturbe
Ángela Rodríguez Martínez
Alberto Rodríguez Rodríguez
Gabriel Rufián Romero
Jordi Salvador i Duch
Tania Sánchez Melero
Javier Sánchez Serna
Eduardo Santos Itoiz
Marta Sibina Camps
Ricardo Sixto Iglesias
Marta Sorlí Fresquet
Joan Tardá
Carolina Telechea
Ana Terrón Berbel
Juan López de Uralde
Carmen Valido Pérez
Josep Vendrell Gardeñes
Miguel Vila Gámez
Noelia Vera Ruiz-Herrera
Aina Vidal Sáez
Raimundo Viejo
Jordi Xuclà i Costa
Juan Pedro Yllanes Suárez
Maria Dantas
Marta Rosique i Saltor
Senate
Vanessa Angustia Gómez
José Ramón Arrieta Arrieta
Joan Comorera
María Freixanet Mateo
Óscar Guardingo Martínez
Pilar Lima
María José López Santana
Carles Mulet
Jordi Navarrete
María Concepción Palencia García
Idoia Villanueva Ruiz
Sara Bailac Ardanuy
Ana María Surra Spadea
Laura Castel I Fort
Xavier Castellana i Gamisans
Adelina Escandell Grases
Spain National Assembly
Hugo Martínez Abarca
Parliament of Catalonia
Alfons Montserrat
Eduardo Reyes i Pino
Jenn Díaz
Lluïsa Llop Fernàndez
Marc Sanglas
Ernest Maragall I Mira
Ferran Civit i Martí
Mònica Palacín París
Alba Metge i Climent
Francesc Viaplana Manresa
European Parliament
Miguel Urbán
Ernest Urtasun
Jordi Solé i Ferrando
Diana Riba i Giner
Jordi Solé i Ferrando