Madrid, Spain – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on citizens “not to bend down to the United States” and to build a more independent Europe as his government passed a €5 billion aid package on Thursday, March 26, to assuage the economic harm of the Middle East conflict.
“We have sufficient credentials to contribute to this debate from a position of leadership. Europe is part of our lives. It is time to make courageous decisions,” he told a meeting in Madrid.
“We are gambling with the possibility of a much more autonomous, stronger, freer, and more resilient Europe.”
One of the most outspoken European leaders against the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, Sánchez has railed against the cost of what he says is an “illegal war”.
The head of state has claimed that Spanish firms were losing €100 billion in under a month since the Middle East conflict began on February 28, 2026.
Reuters reported the figure referred to the decline in the aggregate market capitalization of Spain’s blue‑chip IBEX index since the conflict erupted.
On Thursday, Spanish MPs voted in favour of a package of measures approved by the cabinet last week to help citizens weather the economic fallout.These include lowering fuel and electricity taxes and granting fuel subsidies to sectors most exposed to energy price rises.
The opposition conservative People’s Party abstained, and the hard-right Vox party – the third largest in the parliament – opposed the measures.
Sánchez also warned Israel is about to inflict on Lebanon the same level of devastation which it brought to the Gaza Strip; Israel announced plans on Tuesday for a land invasion of Lebanon’s southern territory.
“An emboldened Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu aims to inflict on Lebanon the same destruction and suffering that was committed in Gaza,” the prime minister said on Wednesday.
“It’s not fair that someone sets fire to the world and the rest of us have to swallow the ashes.”
Featured image: La Moncloa via X.
