U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL) has withdrawn as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, citing the Spanish government’s increasingly hostile policies toward Israel.
In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Miami Republican said he made the decision reluctantly, pointing to Spain’s longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties to the United States and South Florida.
“As a proud Cuban-American and a steadfast defender of democracy, international security, and the U.S. alliance network, I did not make this decision lightly,” Giménez wrote. He said he has spent much of his career working to strengthen U.S.-Spain relations but argued that recent actions by Sánchez’s government made continued service in the caucus impossible.
Giménez accused the Spanish government of escalating a “hostile crusade” against Israel while the country faces threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other terrorist groups. He charged that Spain has moved beyond legitimate policy disagreement into rhetoric that normalizes antisemitism.
Among his sharpest criticisms was Spain’s reported decision to bar members of the Israel Defense Forces and certain Israeli officials from entering the country, which he called “unprecedented and shameful.” He also criticized arms embargoes and restrictions on defense-related transportation, saying these steps place Spain “firmly on the wrong side of the global fight for freedom.”
“To bar the brave men and women of the IDF … while your political apparatus simultaneously legitimizes terrorist networks and accommodationist policies, is a betrayal of Western values,” he wrote.
Giménez noted that the caucus exists to strengthen ties based on shared democratic values. In his view, Spain’s recent policies show the Sánchez government no longer shares those principles.
“I remain hopeful that Spain will one day return to a foreign policy rooted in the defense of Western allies and moral clarity against terrorism,” he said. “Until then, I can no longer lend my name to an organization intended to celebrate bilateral friendship while your government actively works to undermine democratic principles.”
The move highlights ongoing divisions among Western allies over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Spain has taken a more critical stance toward Israel’s military campaign, which its supporters defend as addressing humanitarian concerns and upholding international law. Giménez’s resignation underscores how Middle East disagreements continue to strain diplomatic relationships beyond the region.
