Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described Europe’s response to the war in Gaza as a failure, warning that double standards over Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine the West’s global standing. In an interview with the Guardian ahead of talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Sánchez said the situation in Gaza represents one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.
Sánchez, the first senior European leader to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, welcomed other European countries following Spain’s lead in recognising a Palestinian state. However, he acknowledged that Europe’s response had been poor, with EU member states divided on how to influence Israel. “It is a failure,” he said. “The world is looking at the EU and asking: ‘Why are you doing double standards when it comes to Ukraine and when it comes to Gaza?’”
The Spanish leader said he was pushing Europe to do more, including suspending the EU’s strategic partnership with Israel. He also criticised the United States under Donald Trump for attempting to dismantle the post-World War II rules-based global order it had created. Sánchez described the US withdrawal from international institutions as a “shocking reality” that could create an opportunity for the EU and the UK to strengthen their influence.
Sánchez defended the benefits of migration and criticised traditional right-wing parties for copying the policies of populist rivals on climate and migration. He reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to NATO while advocating for a pragmatic approach to US relations. The prime minister also emphasised the need for Europe to act with moral consistency to fill the gap left by the US retreat from global leadership.
