Spanish government stands up to US threats, says it will work for peace and international law

US President Donald Trump recently floated a possible cut to trade relations with Spain over its refusal to support illegal US-Israel attacks on Iran. “We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, head of another EU government, sat meekly in the next chair.

While supposed allies failed to stand up to President Trump’s lambasting, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the comments himself, emphasizing Spain would not be intimidated into endorsing warmongering narratives or breaking international law. “The Spanish government’s position on this situation is clear and consistent,” Sánchez said, referencing stances on the genocide in Gaza and war in Ukraine. “It can be summed up in three words: no to war.”

The coalition government in Spain, headed by Sánchez’s Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), has positioned itself differently from other European countries regarding ongoing crises in the world. Since October 2023, like Slovenia and Ireland, Spain spoke out against Israel’s attacks on Gaza and took steps to limit arms transfers to the occupation power. Local solidarity movements warn these steps were often too slow and limited, yet Spain’s stance in regional discussions provided much-needed resistance to the EU’s unlimited support for Israel.

Speaking on Wednesday, March 4, the Spanish prime minister called on the international community not to “repeat past mistakes” and blindly believe attacks on Iran would result in greater wellbeing. Sánchez stated that while he cannot predict the final outcome of the current situation, “what we do know is that it will not result in a more just international order, nor will it lead to higher wages, better public services, or a healthier environment.”

This response to Trump’s threats also reflected on the impacts of wars on national governments’ core responsibility – securing decent living conditions for the population. “It is absolutely unacceptable that leaders who are incapable of fulfilling this task use the smokescreen of war to hide their failure and, by doing so, line the pockets of a select few, the same ones as always,” Sánchez said. “The only ones who win when the world stops building hospitals to build missiles.”