Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the president of Spain's Popular Party (PP), is scheduled to travel to Brussels on Wednesday for meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, according to sources within his party's national leadership.

This visit is considered a 'crucial' moment for Feijóo to reinforce his commitment to European rearmament and to support measures addressing tariffs imposed by the United States.

Feijóo’s trip coincides with ongoing negotiations between the PP and the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) regarding a potential state pact to tackle the trade war initiated by former President Donald Trump.

This development occurs as Spain seeks to embrace a more collaborative spirit reminiscent of Brussels, prioritizing agreements over disputes after years of tensions.

During his visit, Feijóo intends to emphasize the European People’s Party’s (EPP) commitment to increase defense spending beyond 2%, with a target potentially reaching 3%.

The PP has urged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to present legislation before the Congress to facilitate increased investment in defense and to establish General State Budgets that would ensure this funding is maintained in the coming years.

The PP asserts that Spain’s leading political party should align closely with the European Commission on two fundamental issues currently destabilizing Europe.

Additionally, Feijóo's meetings with Von der Leyen could serve as leverage in pressuring Sánchez toward a prior agreement on defense expenditures.

Furthermore, the timing of Feijóo's visit aligns with the PSOE's decision to postpone a plenary session in Congress to avoid overlap with the European PP gathering scheduled for April 29 and 30. Notably, Von der Leyen is from the EPP and will be a prominent figure at the forthcoming event in Valencia, occurring six months after the devastating floods that struck the province.