Sánchez insists that the war in Iran is “illegal” but settles his clash with Merz and Von der Leyen

However, Sánchez has considered settled the confrontations he has been involved in since the outbreak of the conflict with the German chancellor, the Christian Democrat. Friedrich Merzand with the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyenwho initially showed greater understanding or even implicit support for Trump’s war.

“Regarding the German Government, tell them that we have the best of relationships“said the President of the Government upon his arrival at the European Council in Brussels.

Sánchez wanted to leave behind the controversy generated by the joint appearance of Merz and Donald Trump at the White House after the outbreak of the war in Iran. There, the president of the United States assured that Spain is a “terrible partner” and proposed a trade blockade for not authorizing the use of the Rota and Morón bases.

The German Chancellor not only remained silent in the face of these threats against an EU ally, but also criticized Sánchez for refusing to raise Defense spending to 5%. “We are trying to convince you that this is part of our common security”Merz emphasized.

The Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albaresexpressed his “surprise” at this attitude. “I can’t imagine Chancellor Merkel or Chancellor Scholz making statements of that type. It was another European spirit,” he reproached him.

Merz later explained that in his closed-door meeting with Trump he had defended Sánchez and called the President of the Government several times, but had not managed to speak with him, according to the German press.

“The important thing for me, and I want to thank Chancellor Merzis that in the private meeting with President Donald Trump he explained to him the solidarity of Europe, and of course also of Germany, towards Spain in the face of a threat of coercion that in no way conforms to trade policy, which is in the hands of the EU and not of national governments,” Sánchez said.

In the images released from the beginning of the European Council you can see Sánchez and Merz having a lively conversation after this harsh controversy.

As for the president of the Commission, the President of the Government, his entire team and his parliamentary partners came out in an uproar against her for a speech in which considered the rules-based world order dead and justified the fall of the ayatollah regime.

The president of the European Council, the Portuguese socialist António Costa, and also the socialist group in the European Parliament, led by Iratxe García, very close to Sánchez, also joined the criticism.

Faced with the avalanche of reproaches, the president was forced two days later to qualify her words, although only in part. “Seeing the world as it is in no way diminishes our determination to fight for the world we want,” he said.

“Regarding Úrsula’s speech, I believe that the president of the Commission was very clear the day after (…) in defending the international order and international law,” Sánchez concluded this Thursday in Brussels.