Pedro Sanchez has pledged to use ‘all resources of the state’ to protect citizens from the fallout of the Iran war.
In an interview with eldiario.es, the Spanish prime minister said the government is preparing a plan with two main pillars: short-term socio-economic measures and longer-term structural reforms.
The measures are designed to soften the impact the conflict could have on Spain’s economy, particularly rising energy costs and inflation linked to instability in the Middle East.
Sanchez said the exact consequences of the war remain uncertain, but stressed that the government will act if the situation begins to affect households and businesses.
The government has already announced it will open talks with parliamentary parties and social partners to discuss possible responses to the crisis.
While the PSOE leader did not reveal specific measures, he said the plan will include immediate economic support alongside longer-term structural policies.
One of those structural responses will focus on reducing Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels.
According to Sanchez, the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine highlight how vulnerable European economies remain to energy shocks.
Reducing reliance on fossil fuels, he said, would strengthen both Spain and the European Union in the long term.
During the interview, Sanchez also addressed the wider geopolitical debate about the future of the international order.
He said he feels closer to the views of European Council president Antonio Costa than those of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen this week caught backlash after suggesting that the global rules-based order that has shaped international relations for decades may be coming to an end.
Sanchez rejected that idea, arguing that the real choice facing the world is not between an old order and a new one.
Instead, he said the key question is whether the international community preserves a rules-based system or descends into global disorder.
He warned that a collapse of the international order could repeat the conditions that led to the two world wars.
For that reason, Sanchez insisted that the EU must defend its values and principles.
The Spanish leader also said he is not worried about potential retaliation from US President Donald Trump over Spain’s refusal to support the military campaign against Iran.
Spain has taken a firm anti-war position, refusing to allow its bases to be used in the conflict and warning that the military operation risks destabilising the global order.
Sanchez acknowledged that it is impossible to predict how long the war in the Middle East could last.
However, he insisted that Spain will continue to focus on diplomacy and protecting its citizens from the economic consequences of the conflict.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
