The leader of the Spanish conservative People’s Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of “going against the security of Spain” because of his stance against the US and Israeli attack on Iran.
Spain is defying pressure from the US by refusing to authorise the use of its military bases for potential strikes against Iran.
Feijóo addressed this issue in a speech at the Europa Forum in Bilbao today, stating that Spain “must stand with its allies”, otherwise it will be left “without an operational framework”.
He also urged the European Union and the US not to confuse Spain’s “precarious government” with its citizens as a whole.
“Today, Spain is not a reliable partner, not only with the United States, but also within the EU, and today Spain does not have a voice when it comes to establishing strategic positions in response to the geopolitical problems the world is experiencing,” he insisted.
Feijóo has argued against “compromising” the Iranian regime, which he has accused of “massacring” its own citizens. “No democrat can deny this reality; the fewer tyrants there are in the world, the better.”
The PP leader accuses Pedro Sanchez of pandering to its ultra-left-wing electoral base.
Acknowledging that the US is one of the main investors in Spain and has been key to the defence of the southern border, he called it “irresponsible” to antagonise US President Donald Trump over a specific issue.
Many major US companies are present in Spain, especially in the industrial sector. In 2022, cumulative US investment in Spain reached €33.1 billion.
EU member states remain split over how to respond to the escalating confrontation with Iran, exposing familiar fault lines in the bloc’s foreign policy with German Chancellor Merz joining Trump in criticising Spain over defence spending
Meanwhile, the European Commission has signalled resolve, declaring itself “ready” to defend the EU’s interests, even as the bloc struggles to present a single, coherent stance.
