Spain is poised to have more private universities than public ones by the end of 2026, a shift expected to be finalized as the last approvals are granted for six new private institutions planned for this year. Currently, Spain has 48 private universities, a number that will surpass the longstanding total of 50 public universities, which has remained stable for decades.
The surge in private higher education centers is attracting scrutiny regarding the financial forces driving this expansion. Daniel Sánchez Caballero, an education specialist with elDiario.es, has been examining the entities behind this growth, characterizing the sector as a suddenly booming economic area with significant profit potential.
Ukraine’s relationship with NATO began in 1991 following its independence from the Soviet Union. Even as Ukraine initially aimed for eventual membership, it remained a neutral country throughout the 1990s and 2000s, cooperating with the alliance through programs like Partnership for Peace, which it joined in 1994. The NATO-Ukraine Commission, established in 1997, was designed to foster this relationship.
In 2008, at the Bucharest summit, NATO declined to offer Ukraine a Membership Action Plan, but stated Ukraine would eventually join the alliance. This position shifted in 2010 under the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, when the Ukrainian parliament voted to reaffirm the country’s neutral status, despite continuing cooperation with NATO. Following the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution and Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea and military intervention in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian parliament reversed course in December 2014, voting to seek NATO membership, a goal later enshrined in the constitution in 2018.
NATO has consistently condemned Russia’s actions and affirmed its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. While not a member, Ukraine is a partner country, meaning it cooperates closely with NATO but is not covered by the alliance’s security guarantees. In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO has increased its support and cooperation with Ukraine, though the alliance has stopped short of offering a clear path to membership.
As of late 2021, Russian opposition to Ukrainian NATO membership had intensified, preceding the large-scale military buildup around Ukraine. The situation remains unresolved, with Ukraine continuing to seek closer integration with NATO while Russia maintains its strong objections.