- 96% of space under contract
- Three full days of exhibitions and activities
The Spanish Ministry of Defense, through its Secretary of State, Amparo Valcarce, vetoed the presence of the Israeli military and security industry at the fourth edition of the International Defense and Security Exhibition security (FEINDEF), which will be held in Madrid from May 12 to 14, 2025.
During the presentation ceremony of FEINDEF 25, the number three of the ministry, trusted person of Minister Margarita Robles and responsible for the management of armaments, equipment and R&D&I policies of the ministry, made a parenthesis in his speech to confirm that“There will be no institutional participation by Israel or an Israeli company at this show.”
In France, a similar measure was applied to the Euronaval show, which takes place from November 4 to 7 in Paris, but a French court overturned the ban days before the show opened. However, most Israeli companies interested in Euronaval were unable to complete the formalities in time to bring the planned equipment and weapons systems to the French capital.
In Spain, Izquierda Unida, partner of the coalition government led by Pedro Sánchez, submitted a non-legislative proposal to Congress in mid-September aimed at excluding Israeli companies or companies with Israeli capital from participating in defense, security or others, private or in collaboration with public authorities, organized in Spain. This proposal was crowned with success.
Six months before the opening of the fourth edition of FEINDEF at IFEMA, Ángel Olivares announced the main figures of the sector's only biennial trade fair institutionally supported by the Ministry of Defense. “96% of the 50,000 square meters of exhibition space have already been contracted”or around 25% more than in 2023, which led to “the organization to consider extending the surface area with a third pavilion”with the ambition of reaching 550 exhibitors.
According to the president of the Foundation and responsible for the next edition, the number of “companies which have already confirmed their presence amounts to 405, which represents a growth of 15%”, of which “130 are participating for the first time and 131 are from third countries”, which represents 32% of the total number of exhibitors.
As it is the only exhibition and conference fair in the sector institutionally supported by the Ministry of Defense, Ángel Olivares said: “We hope to receive around a hundred international delegations representing 57 countries and 35,000 professional visitors.”
At the same time, ENEMY DEF 25 plans an ambitious program of activities. There will be “more than 35 sessions with the participation of military commanders and qualified representatives of national and international industry”, the names of which Olivares did not anticipate. It includes the Innova space, which will focus on innovative products and services presented by new companies and start-ups.
Among the new features, we note a “20% increase in the duration of the fair, which will be three full days”. The third and final day, May 14, will not close its doors at 2 p.m., but will be extended until the end of the afternoon. Particular attention will also be paid “to university students, young people in professional training and students of military academies”with activities designed to introduce them to the defense industry and the employment opportunities it offers.
Aware of the importance of the sector, having spent three years at the head of industrial and supply policy of the Ministry of Defense, Ángel Olivares recalled that it is a “strategic and driving sector, which can play a decisive role in achieving the great objective of increasing the weight of industry in the Spanish economy”.
In her closing speech, the Secretary of State stressed that FEINDEF is the most important national exhibition for the defense and security sector and its best showcase. According to her, this is an excellent opportunity for “strengthening ties, forging alliances, defining business consortia and offering new technological solutions to the national defense industry”.
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