Sanchez: Spain's 'no to war' stance rooted in principles, not politics

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered a robust defense of his government's anti-war stance Wednesday, emphasizing that Madrid's opposition to the conflict involving Iran is grounded in principle and respect for international law. In an interview published by El Diario, Sanchez characterized Spain's position as reflecting a consistent foreign policy approach that has resonated far beyond the country's borders.

National pride in principled stance

"When we said 'no to war,' there was a wave of pride in being Spanish not only within our country, but also among many societies across the world," Sanchez stated, suggesting Madrid's position has garnered international sympathy. He firmly rejected criticism from opposition parties who have accused his government of adopting an electoral posture against the conflict rather than a principled diplomatic position.

'Flagrant illegality' cannot solve instability

Sanchez placed responsibility for the war squarely on its initiators, declaring "This war was not provoked by Spain. It was a war driven unilaterally by two nations." He argued that resolving the Middle East's instability cannot be achieved through what he termed "such a flagrant illegality." The prime minister dismissed concerns about potential US retaliation for Spain's refusal to support the conflict, asserting "Being an ally of the United States does not mean saying yes to everything," and emphasizing that defending international law has consistently guided Spain's position in recent conflicts, including Ukraine and Gaza.

Call for UN Security Council overhaul

The Spanish leader extended his critique to the international system itself, calling for fundamental reforms to the United Nations including elimination of veto power in the Security Council. "We must end the right of veto in the United Nations," Sanchez insisted, arguing that the current structure is unrepresentative. He pointedly noted it is "curious" that Russia and the US remain permanent members while both countries are, in his view, "bringing a lot of instability to the world with the wars in Ukraine and also in Iran." Sanchez proposed expanding representation to include major global actors such as India, African nations, China, and Brazil to make the UN system more truly representative of the contemporary world order.