Spain Against the Tide: Sánchez’s Vision for Europe

Written by Yefte Prick

In recent weeks, Spain’s ongoing housing crisis and rising rental prices have brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets to protest against government policies. Facing growing political pressure and after failing to pass key reforms, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced early parliamentary elections for 29 November, putting his political future at stake.

Amid continued political discontent at home, Sánchez has maintained an active presence on the international stage. Several of his foreign policy positions have gained support across Spain’s divided political landscape, potentially serving at the same time as a political tool to strengthen his position at home. As one of the few prominent left-wing leaders governing a major European country, Sánchez represents a political approach that is becoming less widely represented as much of Europe shifts towards the right. Sánchez has called for a more united and socially equitable Europe, with greater capacity to act independently on the international stage. His approach to European integration reflects broader debates about the continent’s role in a changing international environment. The upcoming elections will therefore not only shape Spain’s political future but will also be closely watched across Europe.

Spain’s Push For a More Social Europe

Since becoming Spain’s prime minister in 2018, Pedro Sánchez has reflected social-democratic principles in his approach to European integration, emphasising economic cooperation alongside social justice and solidarity. As he told the European Parliament in 2023, Europe must ensure that ‘the opportunities and wealth generated reach all citizens’. This political vision was already apparent in the early stages of his premiership. In June 2018, Sánchez allowed the Aquarius, a rescue vessel with more than 600 migrants on board, to dock in Spain after being turned away by Italy and Malta. Sánchez defended the decision, stating: ‘It is our duty to offer these 600 people a safe harbour.’ Eight years later, his government introduced a programme to regularise hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants. While Italy placed greater emphasis on restricting irregular migration, Spain focused on expanding legal migration pathways and integrating migrants into the labour market. However, the Spanish government's approach also faced much criticism, both domestically and at the European level.

Beyond migration, Sánchez has also called for greater financial solidarity within the EU. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he strongly supported the European recovery fund, while countries such as the Netherlands and Austria favoured loans over grants, citing concerns about fiscal responsibility and reform conditions. In 2022, Spain also worked with Portugal to secure EU approval for measures to curb soaring energy prices. Although these initiatives align with social-democratic principles, Spain’s own economic interests played a significant role. The country had been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising energy prices.

Sánchez’s vision of a more socially inclusive Europe became visible during Spain’s EU Council presidency in 2023. Alongside reindustrialisation, the green transition and European unity, his government prioritised social and economic justice. Spain pushed for stronger workers’ rights, fairer corporate taxation and fiscal reforms to avoid a return to the austerity policies that followed the 2008 financial crisis. These priorities reflected his government's broader political agenda. However, the presidency's six-month term and its role as a neutral mediator limited Spain's ability to translate its political ambitions into EU-wide policies. 

Spain's independent voice on the international stage

While Sánchez has promoted social-democratic principles within the EU, it is his outspoken and often independent stance on international affairs that has drawn particular attention. Sánchez has expressed support for European integration and called for greater European autonomy in international affairs, including the ability to pursue its own interests. This approach was reflected in May 2024, when Spain joined Ireland and Norway in recognising Palestinian statehood, taking a different position from several major Western European countries. In September 2025, Sánchez announced further measures to formalise Spain’s arms embargo on Israel and restrict the use of Spanish ports and airspace for shipments supporting the Israeli military.

Sánchez’s foreign policy has also led to disagreements with the United States, particularly since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. During a visit to China that April, Sánchez called for dialogue and cooperation as Trump's tariffs heightened global trade tensions. Two months later, he resisted NATO’s new target of spending 5% of GDP on defence, arguing that Spain could meet its security commitments without undermining its welfare state. The dispute highlighted ongoing disagreements on how Europe should balance defence spending with social priorities.

Tensions intensified in 2026. Following the US military operation in Venezuela in January, Sánchez openly criticised the intervention as a violation of international law. In March, he also condemned the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran on similar grounds. Relations between Spain and the US became more strained when Spain refused to allow US forces to use its military bases for strikes on Iran. Despite Trump's threats to cut trade ties with Spain and continued criticism from the US administration, Sánchez maintained his position.

A more independent and social Europe

Sánchez’s foreign policy reflects an approach that seeks to balance strong alliances and international cooperation with political independence and adherence to fundamental principles. His assertive foreign policy and his willingness to challenge the United States has drawn international attention, while also strengthening his political position at home amid growing political discontent and public distrust.

His stance on the international stage is particularly relevant in today’s geopolitical context, as power politics increasingly challenge multilateral cooperation and the rules-based international order. Sanchez’s disagreements with Trump illustrate the difficult balance between maintaining longstanding alliances and defending Europe’s own interests and priorities. Ultimately, his approach raises a broader question about how Europe chooses to position itself in an increasingly unpredictable world. Despite its considerable economic and political influence, Europe often struggles to present a united front and act collectively on the international stage. While Sanchez’s positions do not always reflect a wider European consensus, they suggest that Europe may have more room to shape its own future than it often assumes. Perhaps the real question is not whether Europe has the power to act independently, but whether it is willing to use the influence it already has.

Sources: La Moncloa (Spanish Government), Euronews, The Guardian, El País, Reuters, Associated Press (AP News), Politico Europe, NRC. 

Written by Yefte Prick

Edited by Liv O’Mahony and Elizabeth Gillen