Pedro Sánchez arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, where an international meeting dedicated to ending the fighting in Gaza is taking place. The Spanish leader was among the few European officials who openly condemned Israel’s actions, calling them genocide. However, after agreements on a ceasefire were reached, Sánchez expressed satisfaction and acknowledged the efforts of Donald Trump, despite their political differences.
The Spanish government emphasizes that it sees the compromise reached as an opportunity for long-awaited peace. At the same time, officials in Madrid admit that the path to a final settlement will not be easy. The Spanish authorities hope that the release of prisoners and hostages will be the first step toward stabilizing the situation, and that humanitarian aid will reach the region as quickly as possible and in sufficient volume.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, accompanying Sánchez, recalled that Spain’s stance on events in Gaza remains unchanged. Madrid continues to believe that the investigation into Israeli military actions should go on and that those responsible must be held accountable. Nevertheless, the Spanish government is openly pleased with the agreement reached and expresses gratitude to the mediating countries, including the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
Behind the scenes at the summit, Sánchez and other European and Arab leaders had to wait for Trump longer than expected: the US president extended his speech in the Israeli parliament, focusing on personal topics. The Spanish prime minister, like the others, played a secondary role at the meeting—with the main attention on Trump and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Even the city’s decorations made this clear: only their portraits and messages of peace were displayed on the posters.
Throughout the crisis, Sánchez managed to establish close contacts with Arab leaders, especially with the Egyptian president who invited him to the summit. Relations with Trump remain tense: previously, the US leader threatened to exclude Spain from NATO, but in practice, these statements had no consequences. Spanish officials note that working contacts between the two countries’ administrations remain at a good level, with the recent US-China meeting in Madrid serving as evidence.
In Madrid, it is believed that Trump’s bold statements rarely translate into real actions. This was the case with his threats to impose special tariffs against Spain, which were never implemented. Now the prospect of exclusion from NATO is also seen as more rhetoric without real consequences.
