Spain’s Pedro Sanchez’s Erratic Foreign Policy

Pedro Sánchez faces international and domestic criticism for his Foreign Policy. (Flickr)

Pedro Sánchez landed in New York on September 25 for the latest UN General Assembly to address the General Debate in its 79th Session. He stated, "Respect for human dignity cannot be selective nor conditioned by political or strategic interests."While this message to the world supports Sánchez's image as the UN’s darling, his domestic opposition accuses him of creating an overly leftist front to attract voters from the traditional Spanish extreme left and solidify his position as prime minister for the next term. In other words, it is a political strategy that would conflict with his supposed humanitarian motivations for his foreign policy decisions.

Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine and supported its leaders in condemning Israel's approach to the war in Gaza on May 28. Sánchez asserted that "Spain is ready to face the repercussions of the decision," a statement that El Mundo interprets as an allusion to possible reciprocal measures Israel may take against Spain. The Prime Minister spoke against right-wing parties such as PP and Vox and their more pro-Israel stance. The leader of PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, strongly stated his view that "from the river to the sea" is essentially a call for the destruction of the State of Israel, a cause that the Spanish right-wing will not support. 

However, the argument most opposers of Hamas, such as Mosab Hassan Yousef,the Green Prince, raised is one not mentioned by Sánchez's opposition: terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah aim to reconquer all land they deem to be Muslim, which includes the Spanish region of Andalusia. "If you are so generous, convince your country's population to establish a Palestinian State in Andalusia, with Córdoba as its capital, but do not force another country (Israel) to do so," Yousef argued at a conference held in Madrid on September 19. His reasoning suggested that Sánchez's willingness to impose such drastic measures on Israel, while presumably being unwilling to consider similar actions within his own country, revealed a deeply problematic double standard. During the conference, Yousef not only accused Sánchez of hypocrisy but also of antisemitism.

The question of whether Spain should advocate for a Palestinian state in) Israel is now beyond argument,  which represents a significant foreign policy decision. Palestinian leadership expressed gratitude towards Spain for its position: "You understand that what we are doing is for a just cause. Thank you, my friend Pedro Sánchez, thank you to the Spanish people, and thank you to Spain."Their message of thanks is not an isolated incident but rather part of a consistent pattern of approval from Palestinian factions as it echoes a statement made by Hamas almost a year ago: "We appreciate the clear and bold stance of Spain's Pedro Sánchez."

Sánchez, however, also took a clear and bold stance against recognizing Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuela's legitimate leader. This controversial position stood in contrast to the stance adopted by the majority of democratic European nations, raising questions about its alignment with Sánchez's professed "commitment to Democracy and Human Rights." Many doubt this statement in light of the recent discovery that the Maduro government coerced Gonzales into signing his resignation from the Venezuelan presidency before being granted exile in Spain. These events have sparked concerns about a possible conspiracy with Maduro, potentially compromising the human rights standards that Spain claims to uphold. This situation has broader implications for European Union policy towards Venezuela, as Spain's position could influence the EU's collective stance.

A possible explanation for Sánchez’s asymmetrical foreign policy decisions is  that Sánchez's international politics serve merely as a distraction from internal crises plaguing his administration, including shifting political dynamics—losing support from moderate left-wing parties while forging alliances with separatists—scandals involving his wife's political and economic integrity, and changes in voting patterns in Catalonia, a region of crucial political importance in the country. For example, a spokesperson for Podemos, Sánchez's long-term political ally, accused him of recognizing Palestine solely for media attention, arguing that "despite the public addresses, Spain still buys weapons from Israel" and the government has not severed diplomatic ties with Israel "simply for being a U.S. ally," hence painting a picture of a foreign policy driven more by optics and strategic alliances than by consistent principles or genuine humanitarian concerns.

As Spain positions itself more firmly in support of Palestinian statehood and against Edmundo Gonzalez in Venezuela, it must grapple with the potential repercussions, both domestically and internationally. The ongoing debate surrounding these decisions demonstrates the delicate balance required in foreign policy. As the situation develops, the international community will be watching to see how Spain manages the consequences of its diplomatic decisions and whether its approach will contribute to progress towards peace in the Middle East and Venezuela, or will rather result in more defined Islamist and communist influence in Spain as a consequence of the prime minister following an erratic and self-serving foreign policy.