“Those moments are familiar to me when they told us that we were going alone; then it turned out that We were the first and the majority joined us“, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday at the press conference after the Council of Ministers. It was a rumor that flew over all scenarios, from the corridors of Congress to editorials in the media: the loneliness of the position that the Executive had chosen on denying the use of Spanish bases and the rejection of the movements of the US and Israel.
The leader of the opposition himself, reproached the Government’s position, stating that “Spain cannot remain isolated.” In fact, this Wednesday the Popular Party registered a request for an urgent appearance in the Plenary of Congress of the head of the Executive to report on the “weakening” of Spain’s relationship with its allies after the war in Iran and the “isolation effects” in terms of security. However, it only took a threat from the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and a 15-minute intervention to turn the tables.
Since the outbreak of war on Saturday, when , the position adopted by the Government chaired by Pedro Sánchez has been a point of global interest that, at first, seemed isolated from the war boom that predominated in Europe. However, Donald Trump’s threats that emerged due to the Spanish refusal to allow the Americans to use the Rota and Morón bases raised all the alerts. It was then when numerous figures began to emerge on all social networks admiring the position of the leader of the Executive.
Everything has changed, for the worse, on Wednesday afternoon. The White House launched a surprise announcement of “military cooperation” agreement between Spain and the US, so surprising that it has been. “Spain’s position has not changed at all,” Albares snapped with obvious indignation. The owner of Foreigners did not hide their astonishment: “I don’t have the slightest idea what that could refer to or where that could come from.”
Make Europa Great Again
After one from the Moncloa to respond to Trump, expose the framework managed by the Government and a couple of posts in X, the winds have changed, placing the Spanish president in a European and global reference point. One of the first was the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who told the president of the United States that “Spain is part of the European Union and, as such, when we negotiate an agreement on tariffs with the United States, we do it together or we don’tand there is no way to treat Spain especially badly.” Although he did not do it in public with Trump because “he did not want to cause a public scandal.”
He has not been the only European leader who has shown his position after Trump’s threats. Emmanuel Macron, president of France, picked up the phone moments after Sánchez’s institutional statement to have a conversation. Sources of Elysium have confirmed that “the President of the Republic has just spoken with Pedro Sánchez to convey the European solidarity from France in response to recent threats of economic coercionof which Spain was the object yesterday”.
Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez.
It is not a minor statement, in the last 48 hours Macron has been the protagonist of one of the highest points of the increase in war after ensuring that “he would be willing to use nuclear weapons to defend the interests of the nation.” The Frenchman has been joined by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the: “We are in full solidarity with all Member States and all their citizens and, through our common commercial policy, we are ready to act if necessary to safeguard the interests of the European Union,” he expressed.
It is not the only one within the European government that has positioned itself in parallel to the positions of the Executive, the president of the European Council, António Costa, has published a message of support in X. “I just had a call with President Pedro Sánchez to express the full solidarity of the EU with Spain“, began by reaffirming “the firm commitment to the principles of international law and to the rules-based international order throughout the world.”
Other European countries have also condemned the actions of the United States and Israel. This is the case of Giorgia Meloni, Italian Prime Minister, who has assured that “Israel has violated international humanitarian law and must be isolated globally.” They have been joined by Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Türkiye and Austria.
The Chinese giant
As if the change of course of the majority of European countries, which in the first instance had declared their support for Trump until Sánchez entered the game, was not enough, another country outside of Europe has publicly shown its support for the Spanish Government. And it is not just any country. has given the note this Wednesday after the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, in a press conference emphasized that “Trade should not be instrumentalized or used as a weapon”.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. November 28, 2018 (ARCHIVE Photo) 11/28/2018
“Safeguarding security and stability in this region is in the common interest of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately stop military operationsavoid a further escalation of tensions and a greater impact on the world economy,” concluded the Chinese spokesperson.
The position of the Asian country is not a minor matter. It is the main commercial, technological, economic and military competition of the United States.
Spain and its continued position
“The position of the Government of Spain in this situation is clear and consistent. The same one that we have maintained in Ukraine and Gaza. No to the bankruptcy of an international law that protects us all, especially the civilian population,” said the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, in the institutional statement he made this Wednesday. Furthermore, the leader of the Executive has announced that he will collaborate with “any country that is in favor of peace and international law.”
The situation is similar to that of a few months ago, when the Executive rejected the genocide in Gaza and, at first alone and then accompanied, recognized the Palestinian State and put its foot down against the actions against human rights carried out by Israel. Now, that is, 80% recognize Palestine.
Moments later, and with the support he has received, Sánchez publicly thanked Macron, von der Leyen, Costa and the rest of the European partners. “NO TO WAR. Yes to trade, cooperation and prosperity”, concluded the message of gratitude. In Spain, All the Government’s partners have stood alongside Sánchez with the exception of the Popular Party and Vox, which are “subservient to power”, in the words of Yolanda Díaz or Ione Belarra.
The effects of the conflict in Iran continue to awaken unpredictable consequences where Spain has placed itself in a key position to demand respect to international law and in favor of peace. It is unknown at the moment which and in what way Trump will apply the penalties to the country, but with each passing moment more countries join the Spanish position on a Wednesday in which Sánchez has set the course for the rest of Europe.
