Carme Chacón, Spanish defence minister, on Monday defended her government’s surprise decision to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from Kosovo amid a chorus of criticism from Spain’s Nato allies abroad and opposition politicians at home.

Speaking at a naval base in Cádiz, Ms Chacón said that the decision – first announced by her last week on a visit to the 630 Spanish soldiers in Kosovo – was “irreversible” and that Spanish troops would not be involved in missions that did not enjoy the support of the Spanish public.