US opens investigation into Spain’s refusals to port cargo ships carrying weapons to Israel

WASHINGTON– The United States has launched an investigation into whether NATO ally Spain has refused port entry to cargo ships allegedly transporting U.S. weapons to Israel.

The Federal Maritime Commission, an independent agency charged with monitoring and evaluating conditions that could affect U.S. shipping and international trade, said it opened an investigation after receiving reports that Spain had refused to allow at least three cargo ships to enter its ports.

“The committee is concerned that this apparent policy of denying entry to certain vessels may create conditions unfavorable to shipping in foreign commerce,” it said in a notice published in the Federal Register on Thursday.

If the investigation determines that Spain interfered with the trade, the commission could impose multimillion-dollar fines, up to $2.3 million per trip, she said.

The notice said the commission was informed on Nov. 19 that Spain was denying port entry to ships, including those enrolled in the U.S.-run maritime security program, which is supposed to provide ships and their owners protection against “restrictive and discriminatory” licenses. because their services are often used by the US military.

Two of the three incidents noted by the commission involved vessels operated by Danish shipping giant Maersk in November. The other occurred in May.

Spanish authorities did not immediately comment on the November incidents. But in May, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the Foreign Ministry had rejected a request to dock the Danish-flagged ship Marianne Danica, saying it was “transporting weapons to Israel.”

A day later, on May 17, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE that it was the first ship carrying weapons to Israel to be denied access. entrance.

“We are not going to contribute to more weapons reaching the Middle East,” he said. “The Middle East needs peace. This is why this first refusal of authorization will launch a policy towards any boat transporting weapons to Israel and wishing to dock in a Spanish port.

The refusal to allow the Marianne Danica to dock at the Mediterranean port of Cartagena came just days before Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized a Palestinian state on May 28.

Spain has blocked its own defense companies from shipping weapons to Israel in October 2023.