Zapatero's skills in foreign policy have been called into question following the decision by the Spanish government of pulling out troops from Kosovo. The decision has also proven how dependent Spain's international missions are on domestic policy. The US were the first in declaring last week that they were "deeply disappointed" by the decision announced few days earlier by Spain's defense minister, Carme Chacón. Following US's declarations, NATO's general secretary, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, expressed his disagreement over the pronouncement, and regretted the decision had not been taken in accordance with the Atlantic Alliance.

The Popular Party, the main Spanish opposition party in the Chamber of Deputies, has taken advantage of the situation to wear down the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE), even though, as stated in several occasions, PP is also strongly opposed to Kosovo's independence. Marano Rajoy, leader of PP, focused his critics on the procedure the government followed to announce the decision: suddenly and without the consent of the rest of the countries in the area, as well as lack of co-ordination with other ministries.

Spokesman for Catalan Republican Left (ERC), Joan Ridao, invited Zapatero to recognize Kosovo's independence and "side with a free, cultured, federal, civilized and democratic Europe", as opposed to a "Jacobin, ignorant and authoritarian one". Josu Erkoreka, deputy for the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV-EAJ), said that the decision were shocking news from an "unreliable government".

Kosovo: domestic or foreign policy matter?
When Kosovo declared independence on February 17th 2008, Madrid announced it would never recognize the country. The denial of the right to self-determination by Spain has its roots in domestic politics, as Spain is not willing to internationally admit a right which is being denied to territories within its boundaries, such as Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia. However, such consistency has left Madrid in a very difficult position before its allies. As a consequence, aspirations by Spain to become an influential state in the international arena, as shown by efforts to join the G-20 and improve relations with the US, may vanish.

In Catalonia and the Basque Country, several opinion articles have held that the decision cannot be justified unless domestic politics are taken into consideration. Writer and historian Joan B. Culla has written in El País newspaper that the fact that Kosovo's independence "provokes so much contempt to both PSOE and PP proves just how fragile the everlasting unity they defend is". Vicent Partal, director of Vilaweb on-line journal, has said in an editorial that it was Spain's Defense Minister who induced Spanish Socialist to withdraw, and confirmed the corrections the Spanish officials had to make to appease complaints by allies.

In the Basque Country, Gara newspaper has published that one year ago Zapatero did not see any contradiction between Spain's mission in an unrecognized country.

Further information:

• Le Courrier des Balkans: Kosovo : l'Espagne « lâche » la Kfor
• Time: Spain's Withdrawal from Kosovo Angers Allies
• Diario Vasco: Kosovo acorrala Zapatero