Pedro Sanchez has barnded the Iran invasion by the US and Israel an ‘absolute disaster’ in one of his most explosive foreign policy speeches to date.
Speaking at parliament, the Spanish PM warned that the escalating conflict could spiral into a crisis ‘much worse than Iraq’.
Speaking in Congress on Wednesday, Sánchez did not hold back as he tore into the consequences of the ongoing war, directly criticising both the United States and Israel’s actions.
‘The last thing the world needed was another war,’ he told MPs, before issuing a stark warning: ‘We are not facing the same scenario as 2003 – we are facing something much worse, with far greater and deeper consequences.’
In a blistering assessment, Sanchez listed what he sees as the catastrophic fallout of the conflict so far.
‘They have undermined international law, destabilised the Middle East, reignited conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon, buried Gaza under the rubble of indifference, encouraged nuclear programmes in Pakistan and North Korea, brought insecurity to Gulf states, handed Putin more than €8billion to fund his war, worsened energy problems – and in Iran, replaced one hardliner with another potentially even worse,’ he said.
‘In short, this is an absolute disaster.’
The Spanish leader also openly questioned the purpose of the military offensive, taking aim at US leadership under Donald Trump.
‘The question we must all ask is: what is all this destruction for?’ Sanchez said, suggesting there is no clear strategy behind the intervention.
He used the moment to underline a shift in Spain’s role on the world stage, insisting Madrid will no longer follow allies unquestioningly.
‘The Spain that sat quietly in the back seat no longer exists,’ he declared. ‘We now have a voice and a vote and we will use it in the interests of Spain and of humanity.’
Sanchez went further, making clear that Spain will not support what it sees as unlawful military action.
‘This war is a huge mistake, and we will not accept or pay its costs,’ he said. ‘Being an ally does not mean blind obedience.
‘Spain will not be complicit in illegal aggressions or lies disguised as freedom. Not this time – not while I am Prime Minister.’
The speech drew direct parallels with the Iraq War, with Sanchez invoking the mass ‘No a la guerra’ protests of 2003 and launching a pointed attack on former PM Jose Maria Aznar.
‘Aznar dragged us into that madness out of ego,’ he said, referencing Spain’s controversial involvement alongside the US and UK.
He also noted that both George W. Bush and Tony Blair later acknowledged mistakes over Iraq – a warning, he implied, that history could repeat itself.
