Sánchez: Europe Defends International Order
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently rejected any notion of Europe being subordinate to either US President Donald Trump or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking at a socialist party event shortly before his departure for the Ukraine summit in London, Sánchez asserted that in the 21st century, international relationships should be based on alliances, not vassalage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) at the ‘Support Ukraine’ summit with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
Sánchez emphasized that Europe defends an international order founded on free, equal, and sovereign states, which is why it supports Ukraine against what he termed Putin’s neo-imperialist threat. He underscored that advocating for “more Europe” goes beyond a mere slogan; it is a necessity, describing it as “life insurance.”
Spain faces complexities regarding its defense budget. Planned spending for the current year amounts to only 1.32% of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to reports in El País newspaper. The country, which boasts Europe’s fourth-largest economy, is not expected to meet NATO’s 2% target until 2029.
