As the attacks carried out by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran since 28 February 2026, along with Iran’s regional retaliations, continue, the Spanish Government has, from the very beginning, adopted a position distinct from other European countries in response to the situation in the Middle East. Under the leadership of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, this stance. Opposing the war, emphasizing international law, and openly criticizing both the US and Israel without hesitation has garnered appreciation within the international community. The prohibition on using the Rota and Morón bases in Spain for attacks against Iran, the subsequent withdrawal of US tanker aircraft from these bases[i], and Sánchez’s firm response to Trump’s threat to cut economic relations with Spain marked the beginning of this stance. It has proceeded consistently with Sánchez’s declaration that, despite North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, Spain would not support US attacks on Iran and with Spain positioning itself among the countries within the European Union (EU) opposing direct military retaliation against Iran.
Most recently, on 30 March 2026, this stance reached its peak when Spain’s Minister of Defense described the war conducted by the US and Israel against Iran as “completely illegal and unjust” and announced that Spain had closed its airspace to US warplanes. Moreover, when asked whether the decision to restrict access to Spanish airspace would further deteriorate Spain’s already tense relations with the White House, Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo responded: “This decision is part of a prior decision taken by the Spanish Government not to participate in or contribute to a war initiated unilaterally and in violation of international law.”[ii]
Spain’s Multi-Layered Balancing Strategy
Spain’s anti-war policy in the aforementioned conflict has also sparked debates over whether this Western alliance member—belonging to NATO and the EU in today’s transforming international order—represents a break from the alliance or rather a search for balance. In fact, Spain’s foreign policy in recent years, not only in the US/Israel–Iran War but also in its pro-Palestinian stance and its dissenting views within the EU regarding Gaza, reflects an approach that appears to diverge from alliance orthodoxy. However, the most appropriate approach is to analyze this foreign policy across three distinct levels: the international system, foreign policy, and domestic politics/leadership. This is because Spain’s position emerges not merely as “choosing sides,” but as a multi-layered balancing strategy.
From the perspective of the international system, Spain’s foreign policy can largely be understood as shaped by certain structural factors. Spain, a NATO member since 1982 and an EU member since 1986, continues to maintain its ties with the Western alliance, and there is no indication that it seeks to withdraw from these organizations. Despite tensions with the US, Spain, as a NATO member, remains dependent on the US within the security architecture while simultaneously adopting an approach aimed at preserving its autonomy. Within the EU, Spain holds the position of an active middle power and nourishes this autonomy through the idea of a “European foreign policy independent from the US” within the EU’s search for strategic autonomy. Therefore, in response to changes in the international system, Spain seeks to soften power politics in the evolving order by emphasizing the international legal system. Accordingly, within the framework of structural factors shaping NATO–US relations, the EU, and the concept of strategic autonomy, Spain positions itself as the EU country that most strongly supports the Union’s strategic autonomy while maintaining the greatest distance from the NATO–US axis.
The 2025–2028 Foreign Action Strategy: A Foreign Policy with Its Own Identity
At the level of foreign policy analysis, it is appropriate to examine Spain’s strategic document titled “2025–2028 Foreign Action Strategy: A Foreign Policy with Its Own Identity.” This document represents a strategic repositioning approach rather than a traditional foreign policy blueprint. In the document, where Spain’s role is redefined within a global order undergoing transformation under the shadow of power politics, foreign policy is characterized as an instrument for preserving national capacity and influence within a fluid system. In this framework, Spain constructs its foreign policy upon a commitment to multilateralism in the face of systemic instability, the defense of international law, cooperation with international institutions, and an emphasis on peace.
The document defends multilateralism as a strategic interest, adopts a geo-economic perspective emphasizing the reduction of dependencies through economic diversification, and frames internal cohesion as a strategic necessity linking domestic politics to foreign policy capacity. In other words, Spain positions itself in its foreign policy as a “bridge power” operating through the EU, combining its normative commitments with strategic adaptation to the existing power-oriented international environment, thereby presenting a classic example of a “normative foreign policy.[iii]
The Impact of Domestic Political Dynamics and the Charismatic Leadership of Sánchez
When Spain’s stance is evaluated at the levels of the international system and foreign policy, it is possible to argue that the changing global order compels many countries—like Spain—to adopt multilateral and balanced foreign policy strategies, and that Spain does not occupy a uniquely distinct position at these levels. Therefore, the factor that distinguishes Spain should be sought at the domestic political and leadership levels. The most critical element here lies directly at the domestic politics/leadership level. It can be observed that the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez seeks to strengthen its position—shaped by its ideological orientation representing a left/social democratic line and by the fragile ground created through coalition governance with left-wing parties—through a stance that is sensitive to the Palestinian issue and places strong emphasis on human rights and international law. In this context, Sánchez’s much harsher and more critical attitude toward Israel and his distanced approach to US policies constitute not only a strategic choice in foreign policy but also an ideological preference. At the same time, within the constraints of coalition dynamics, the relatively sympathetic stance of Spanish public opinion toward Palestine draws the Sánchez Government toward a more critical and independent line against US interventionism.
At the leadership level, Pedro Sánchez exhibits a profile that closely aligns with the model of charismatic leadership, which has become increasingly rare in recent years, both globally and especially in European politics. With high visibility in foreign policy, a strong normative discourse, and an emphasis on international law, Sánchez’s approach helps position Spain as a more independent and critical actor in the international arena. In this context, the distinguishing feature of his leadership lies in his ability to adopt a consistent position at moments of choice between power politics and normative principles.[iv]
In conclusion, Spain, in the context of the US/Israel–Iran War, conducts a policy of “balancing” that does not sever its ties with the Western alliance but emphasizes the normative values underlying these ties, adopts a critical stance toward the US and Israel, remains cautious toward Iran, and prioritizes diplomacy. However, this policy is strengthened both by the ideological and domestic political dynamics of the Sánchez government and by the charismatic and principled leadership embodied by Sánchez himself, thereby positioning Spain in a distinctive place within global politics.
[i] Spain refuses to provide military support for US attack on Iran and distances itself from France, Germany and the UK”, El Pais, https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-03-02/spain-refuses-to-provide-military-support-for-us-attack-on-iran-and-distances-itself-from-france-germany-and-the-uk.html, (Access Date: 03.04.2026).
[ii] “Spain closes airspace to US military over Iran war, widening rift with US”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/30/spain-closes-airspace-to-us-military-over-iran-war-widening-rift-with-us, (Access Date: 03.04.2026).
[iii] “Spaın’s Foreıgn Actıon Strategy 2025-2028 Foreıgn Polıcy Wıth A Dıstınct Identıty”, Gobierno de Espana, https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/PoliticaExterior/Documents/EAE_2025-2028/Estrategia%20Acci%C3%B3n%20Exterior%20Ingl%C3%A9s.pdf, (Access Date: 03.04.2026).
[iv] Şule Demirtaş, “Pedro Sánchez nerede, dünya nerede?”, Karar, https://www.karar.com/yazarlar/sule-demirtas/pedro-sanchez-nerede-dunya-nerede-1607092, (Access Date: 03.04.2026).
