Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Europe of adopting “double standards” towards the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, warning that this approach threatens its global standing and describing Europe’s handling of the Gaza war as “a failure.”

In an interview with The Guardian, Sanchez, the first European leader to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, said he was “happy that European countries will follow Spain’s lead in recognizing the State of Palestine.”

However, he criticized Europe’s performance regarding the Gaza war, stating: “It is a failure, certainly. The truth is that EU countries are divided on how to influence Israel. But in my opinion, this is unacceptable, and we cannot hold out for long if we want to maintain our credibility in other crises, such as the crisis in Ukraine.”

The Spanish Prime Minister acknowledged that the roots of the Gaza war are very different from those in Ukraine but added: “In the end, the world looks at the EU and the Western community and asks: Why apply double standards when it comes to Ukraine and Gaza?”

Sanchez urged Europe to do more, including financially sanctioning Israel, saying: “What we are witnessing in Gaza is one of the darkest chapters of international relations in the 21st century. Spain has been very clear within the EU and the international community in calling for suspending the strategic partnership with Israel.”

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Regarding relations with the United States, which have been tense after Madrid refused Washington’s demand to spend 5% of GDP on defense, Sanchez affirmed that his country remains a “trusted partner” in NATO and is committed to maintaining “the best relationship with the United States” regardless of who occupies the White House.

He added: “With all due respect, we have a pragmatic approach in our relationship with the US,” defending what he described as “a different vision on how to face global and domestic challenges.” He pointed out that Washington’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and reduction of contributions to aid programs and the World Health Organization was a “grave mistake” by the Trump administration.

Nevertheless, he noted that the US withdrawal from international institutions may open the door for other countries to enhance their global role, saying: “The most shocking truth is that the main architect of the international system, the United States after World War II, is now weakening this system. This will not be in the interest of the American society or the rest of the world, especially the West. Therefore, I see an opportunity for the EU and the UK.”

He added: “In politics as in life, when you leave a vacuum, there is always someone to fill it. This is what we see with the rise of some East Asian countries.”

Sanchez’s remarks came ahead of a summit with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, where they reached an agreement on the future of Gibraltar, ending a long dispute over the territory following Britain’s exit from the EU and facilitating the movement of people and goods across the border.