Sánchez intensifies his challenge to Trump and writes in 'The Economist' that he owes "blind obedience" to the USA

MadridPedro Sánchez has reaffirmed his "No to war" stance, positioning himself as the antithesis of Donald Trump within the European Union, and has escalated his confrontation with the US president by publishing an article in 'The Economist' this Friday. In it, the Spanish Prime Minister explains the position that has led to his clash with the Trump administration and argues that he owes "blind obedience" to the US in the "reckless path" it has embarked upon in Iran, however much of an ally it may be. Sánchez reiterated this position in a press conference following a Spanish-Portuguese summit held in Huelva. "Among allied countries, it is good to help when one is right and also to point out when one is wrong or is making a mistake," he said. In this regard, the head of the Spanish government described the war in Iran as "an extraordinary mistake." "No to repeating the mistakes of the past. No to the idea that the world's problems can be solved with bombs," Sánchez told the British weekly, recalling the precedent of the 2003 Iraq War. In 'The Economist,' Sánchez denies that this stance stems from "antipathy" toward the US government, "and even less from sympathy toward the brutal regime in Iran." However, the Spanish president is unequivocal in his rejection of "the unilateral violation of international law" and the use of force. "It doesn't work," he warns in the article, hoping that more countries will eventually express the same position as Spain.

In parallel with this message on the international stage, Sánchez will appear before Congress in the coming weeks to address the conflict in the Middle East. He requested this himself as the issue becomes a new battleground between the two main political parties in Spain. A date has not yet been set, but it is expected to be at the end of this month. Sources at Moncloa Palace place the hearing after the next European Council meeting with the heads of state of the 27 EU member states, scheduled for March 19 and 20. The aim of the hearing is to "listen to the opinions and suggestions" of the other groups without requesting their authorization, as First Vice President María Jesús Montero explained to the media. Montero was responding to the demand made this Friday by the People's Party (PP). Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party maintains that the Spanish government must request permission from the Spanish Parliament to hold a hearing. send military aid to Cyprus"Sánchez cannot endanger the lives of our military personnel without congressional authorization," argue sources within the People's Party. The Spanish government has ruled out putting the deployment of the frigate to a vote. Christopher Columbus to the island —where an attack by Iran and its allies was intercepted against a British military base— in coordination with the rest of the European countries. Montero argued that it is not necessary because "it is not an offensive action" but rather a defensive move to "strengthen the capabilities of EU allies." In his appearance, Sánchez stressed that sending the frigate, without prior congressional approval, "is in accordance with national law" and is compatible with the "No to war" stance due to the "defensive and not at all offensive" nature of the mission.

The PP disagrees with this interpretation—Feijóo has insisted on X—while the Spanish government is distancing itself from the main opposition party that has an "erratic" or "servile" stance toward Trump, or, as in the case of military aid to Cyprus, a stance that is simply unknown. PP Deputy Secretary Cuca Gamarra has avoided answering whether they are for or against sending the frigate. In another appearance before the media, the PP leader did not clarify the issue, hiding behind the need to first have all the information on the matter. Amid the tension with the United States, and while the PP headquarters in Genoa is balancing between "denouncing the tyranny of the Iranian regime" and calling for "restraint," Isabel Díaz Ayuso—who acts independently and He has ruthlessly positioned himself as the antithesis of Sánchez— has announced a trip this weekend to New York to "attract new investments to Madrid from leading global companies."

Citizen opposition to the war

Beyond the parties' positions, a 40dB poll published this Friday on Cadena Ser and in The CountryThe poll indicates that two out of three Spaniards (68%) oppose the war initiated by the US and Israel in Iran. Only 23.3% support the military campaign against the Iranian regime, according to the survey, which also points out that slightly more than half of the citizens, 53.2%, endorse the Spanish government's decision to veto the US use of the Morón and Rota bases to attack Tehran. Sánchez, whose actions regarding the conflict are approved by 42.2% of those surveyed – only 18.7% support Feijóo's reaction – conveyed Spain's solidarity this Friday to the Sultan of Oman and the Emir of Qatar for the "unjustifiable attacks" their countries have suffered at the hands of Iran. Twenty-four hours earlier, he made the same gesture to the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to whom he conveyed "full support" in the face of the Israeli bombings.