On Monday, a meeting took place in Sharm el Sheij that drew the attention not only of Spanish but also international media. Pedro Sánchez and Donald Trump, despite recent sharp remarks by the American leader about a possible Spanish exit from NATO, exchanged a handshake on the sidelines of the summit dedicated to seeking ways to end the war in Gaza.
The meeting lasted only a few seconds, but proved quite significant. Trump, who arrived in Egypt noticeably late after visiting Israel, greeted Sánchez with a smile and even made a friendly gesture. The Spanish prime minister, in turn, responded with a brief touch on the American president’s back. This was the first public contact between the two leaders since Trump’s return to the White House.
Four days ago, Trump openly questioned Spain’s participation in NATO, claiming that the country was not meeting its obligations to increase defense spending. In response, the Spanish government emphasized its commitment to the alliance and assured that Spain would remain a full member. Despite the tensions, there was no sign of conflict at the summit in Egypt—the atmosphere appeared rather formal and even amicable.
After the handshake, Trump continued to engage with other world leaders, acknowledging the contribution of most countries to resolving the Middle East crisis. At one point, he even looked around for Sánchez to once again emphasize the importance of economic cooperation and hint at the need to increase the defense budget. The Spanish prime minister, who had previously sharply criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, this time supported the peace initiative and expressed hope for a swift end to the conflict.
It is worth noting that previously, the leaders had met only at official events, limiting themselves to protocol greetings. This time their contact was somewhat more personal, though it did not develop into full-fledged talks. In addition to Trump, Sánchez also spoke with Egyptian President Abdelfatá el Sisi (Abdelfatá el Sisi), one of the summit’s organizers.
There have already been ambiguous episodes in the history of relations between Sánchez and Trump. For example, at the G20 summit in Osaka in 2019, the American president gestured to Sánchez to indicate his seat, which was seen as a joke in Spain at the time. This meeting, however, passed without incident, and the Spanish delegation described it as ‘friendly.’
The summit in Egypt ended with the signing of a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Despite political differences with the US, Spain supported the initiative and expressed its readiness to participate in implementing the peace agreements.
