Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has firmly rejected any notion of Europe being subordinate to either US President Donald Trump or Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking on Sunday, Sánchez asserted that the relationships between nations in the 21st century should be founded on alliances, not on a relationship of vassalage.
Sánchez made these remarks at a socialist party event just before leaving for the Ukraine summit held in London on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with other European leaders, attended the summit.
“Europe defends an international order of free, equal, and sovereign states,” Sánchez stated, explaining the reason behind the continent’s support for Ukraine in the face of Putin’s perceived neo-imperialist threat. Sánchez emphasized that advocating for “more Europe” is not merely a slogan, but a necessity and a form of “life insurance.”
Spain is currently facing challenges with its defense budget. According to the El País newspaper, the country’s planned spending for the present year amounts to only 1.32% of its gross domestic product (GDP). The fourth-largest economy in Europe is not anticipated to reach NATO’s target of 2% until 2029.
