Relegated with Ukraine and a leader in the defense of Gaza in the EU: Sánchez's foreign policy

Madrid / BrusselsAt the Political Community meeting last weekend in Tirana (Albania), attended by 47 countries, there was a small summit to discuss Ukraine. Of course, Donald Trump was called to inform him of the negotiations in Istanbul. However, Pedro Sánchez was not in the photo. He was addressing the situation in Gaza.

This example may serve to explain how Sánchez's international influence in recent weeks has been more visible in the conflict in the Middle East than in Eastern Europe, although the Moncloa government assures that "he hasn't taken his foot off the accelerator" in Ukraine. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares endorsed new sanctions against Russia. "You can't say that Sánchez has lost steam. The truth is that he has never been a privileged interlocutor for Trump," Rafael Grassa, professor of international relations at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), told ARA. They have never had it. outsider. You can impose sanctions, but they are not of key importance," he adds emphatically.

Defense spending

Another reason that explains Sánchez's position in the background is the division between those who are more Atlanticist and those who are less so, Grassa notes. Government sources also emphasize that there is a "belligerent" group more inclined to "submit to NATO's demands," such as the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, who favor an arms buildup. In this regard, Spain has made it clear that it will comply with the 2% of GDP target for defense investment, but expresses obvious reluctance toward the 5% target that has already begun to be put on the table. In fact, when Brussels talks about strengthening security to curb Russian expansionism, Sánchez warns that Spain's priority is its southern border and that the EU should also take shared responsibility. In any case, if the situation in Ukraine changes and the context is ripe for sending peacekeeping troops, Spain will participate in the debate, according to sources at the Moncloa Palace.

In contrast, where the head of the State's executive has managed to lead the way is in the Palestinian cause, despite the Contradictions with the arms sales with Israel"Spain remains in a leading position, and others are joining in," they celebrate around the Spanish president. The EU has increasingly moved closer to the positions championed by the Moncloa from the outset. Despite initial reluctance, the European bloc eventually called for a ceasefire in Tel Aviv, sanctioned Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and this Wednesday the member states agreed to review the association agreement they have had with Israel since 2000 and investigate whether it complies with human rights. The United Kingdom has already taken the step of suspending free trade negotiations with Israel.

At the height of the offensive, Sánchez participated in an Arab League summit in Baghdad last weekend. Taking the initiative in this area also has an internal interpretation, according to Grassa. "It allows him to stake out a position and balance things out because he knows he has internal weaknesses," the professor affirms. In Wednesday's control session, Sánchez was able to attack Alberto Núñez Feijóo on the issue of Israel and avoid the alleged cases of corruption surrounding his entourage and his parliamentary fragility.

Beyond his influence with Gaza, Sánchez also got ahead of himself by traveling to Beijing, a visit viewed with suspicion by the Trump administration. The Spanish president managed to be seen as the spokesperson for the EU, which was once again seeking new allies and considering rebuilding bridges with Xi Jinping's regime. In this sense, Ursula von der Leyen's European Commission and António Costa's European Council have changed their tone with Beijing. Both powers have agreed to lift diplomatic restrictions with the Asian giant and will hold a summit between the European Union and China this year, a meeting that has not been held since 2023.

The only Social Democrat leader

At the European level, Sánchez often finds himself swimming against the current and alone. After the fall of Olaf Scholz, he is the main Social Democratic leader of the European Union, and the right and far right hold a majority in the European Parliament and completely dominate the European Commission. Despite being the most right-wing EU in history, Spain holds several powerful positions in the European institutions. Notable among them, for example, are the Socialist Teresa Ribera, Vice President of the European Commission; the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calviño; and the Vice President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Luis de Guindos.