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Zapatero orders the return of Spanish troops from Iraq

01 March 2004

On 18 April 2004, the first announcement as Prime Minister by the recently elected Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE, Socialist Party) was to order Defence Minister, Jose Bono, to make arrangements for the withdrawal of Spanish troops posted in Iraq "within the shortest possible delay" and with the "maximum security" possible. The commitment to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq unless the United Nations took charge of the military and political situation in the country was one of his main electoral pledges. Although he originally set a deadline of 30 June 2004 for this condition to be fulfilled, Zapatero claimed that available information, inquiries made by the Defence ministry, and the statements made by the main participants in the conflict, indicated that this requirement would not be fulfilled and consequently ordered the return of Spanish troops.

The Spanish move was followed by announcements by the governments of Honduras and the Dominican Republic that they would withdraw their troops (the Dominican Republic announced that it will withdraw its troops by 5 May), and Poland and Bulgaria may also reconsider or downscale their presence. On 27 April, the prime minister told parliament that within a month there would be no "Spanish soldiers would be left on Iraqi soil". Zapatero stressed that he had opposed the presence of the Spanish armed forces in Iraq for a long time, and that he had made a public commitment to withdraw troops as far back as March 2003. He had also opposed the role played by the previous Spanish government, which strongly supported the US-led war in spite of overwhelming opposition from the public.

Announcement by the President of the Government, Don Jose Luis Rodredguez Zapatero, concerning Spanish troops in Iraq; La Moncloa palace, 18.4.04; El Pais 28.4.04