Spain to Cut Back U.S. Troop Presence

Foreign Minister Francisco Fernandez Ordonez says that the U.S. military presence in Spain will be reduced next year.

“I hope to see a negotiated solution within a month,” he said Friday, referring to a second round of bilateral security talks to be held Monday in Madrid.

“The question is whether or not the United States is willing to negotiate seriously the reduction of its military presence in Spain, and that reduction will be carried out next year,” he said.

Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez said last week that Spain would unilaterally order a reduction of the 12,600 American troops if an agreement were not reached, but he set no date.