In a concise and clear appeal that resonated in the New York meetings, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has urged his European counterparts to act with urgency and coherence. During the Council of Foreign Affairs, held within the framework of the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly, Albares did not beat around the bush: he pressed for the European Union to vote “as soon as possible” on sanctions against Israel.
The demand by the Spanish minister is not an isolated gesture, but the culmination of a diplomatic offensive that seeks to reaffirm Spain’s commitment to an international order based on law and justice, although the Spanish opposition sees it as a forward push to cover up corruption cases that haunt Pedro Sánchez‘s tenure as President of the Government. The setting of these “threats,” an informal Council of Foreign Affairs, has been the perfect frame for Albares to encourage and urge his European partners with an uncomfortable question: why has the EU acted decisively against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but remains paralyzed in the face of “human rights violations” by Israel?
“The lack of political will to act in Gaza does not strengthen the EU as a global actor, but the opposite,” warned Albares, in a clear and direct message. This dichotomy, according to the minister, weakens Europe’s credibility on the world stage and undermines the very essence of the multilateralism that it claims to defend.
The intervention of Albares in New York went far beyond the sanctions issue. The minister stood as a passionate defender of multilateralism and international law, principles that, in his view, are “in danger,” something that the Western Sahara issue the head of the Spanish Foreign Ministry does not do. In this sense, to illustrate his concern, he put forward compelling examples: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the “unbearable situation in Gaza and the West Bank,” and the recent “unacceptable” attack against Qatari territory.
In this moment of growing global uncertainty, Albares called for unity and firmness. “We must be aware that the lack of political will to act in Gaza does not strengthen the EU as a global actor, but rather the opposite,” he stressed. His message was an exhortation to coherence, according to sources from the PSOE itself. If the EU wants to be a credible global actor, it must apply international law uniformly, without double standards, making clear to its partners that the rules are universal and that all countries have a common interest in preserving them.
This defense of international law, argued the minister, cannot be selective. Condemning violations must be a constant, “wherever they occur.” From Ukraine to Gaza, passing through Qatar, Spain’s message is that the same principles and values must be applied in all settings, without exceptions.
The presence of the Spanish delegation at the 80th High-Level Week of the United Nations, which spans several days, is being intense. Accompanying President Pedro Sánchez on his agenda, Albares has participated in a series of key bilateral meetings, including a meeting with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to discuss the global situation.
The week began, however, with a symbolic act of great weight: the commemoration of the eightieth anniversary of the UN, an event that marked the official start of a summit that gathers the planet’s top diplomatic leaders. King Felipe VI and President Sánchez lead the Spanish delegation, underscoring the importance Madrid attaches to multilateral diplomacy.
Beyond traditional foreign policy, the minister’s agenda has also addressed critical issues such as the “water diplomacy.” In a parallel event, Albares warned that water, the source of life, could become a “potential conflict” if not managed with a shared vision. In this context, he highlighted the UN’s essential role in promoting fair and sustainable governance of this vital resource.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Global Issues, Diego Martínez Belío, who was in charge of representing Spain at the Middle East ministerial meeting, preceded the arrival of the Spanish diplomatic leadership to New York. This meeting, organized by Qatar and the European Union, served as a prelude to the stance Spain would maintain throughout the week.
Martínez Belío did not stint on warnings. He described the crisis in the Middle East as “the greatest challenge of the modern era” and urged the international community to “act, not merely react.” The message was clear: it is imperative that the current crises become “a real opportunity to consolidate peace and stability.”
The Secretary of State reiterated Spain’s alert not only because of the “devastation and the unbearable humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” but also because of the “extremely dangerous risk of a broader regional escalation.” In a call for collective action, Martínez Belío emphasized the international community’s responsibility to “preserve the international architecture” through concrete actions, such as “imposing an end to the war in Gaza” and de-escalating tensions in the region.
In a context of fragmentation and conflicts, Spain’s message in New York aims to be a constant call toward the long-awaited peace, according to sources close to the Socialist government of Sánchez. For them, coherence is the key to credibility and the only path to defend an international order that is increasingly under threat. The push for sanctions on Israel is the latest chapter of this stance, a step that Madrid considers essential to demonstrate that the principles, in foreign policy, are non-negotiable. We will see the long-term consequences this will bring for our country.
