Sanchez holds a discussion with Starmer in London, focusing on Ukraine and Gaza issues
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, is set to meet with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday. This marks the first bilateral meeting between the heads of government of Spain and the UK since 2017.
Sanchez's remarks ahead of the meeting suggest a more critical stance towards Western policy in the Middle East compared to the UK. He has criticized Western policies towards Gaza and Israel, stating they risk losing credibility. Sanchez also highlighted the double standards he sees in the world, pointing to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
The meeting is expected to discuss geopolitical questions, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza Strip. Sanchez has expressed that European troops should not be deployed while the conflict is ongoing in Ukraine. He also called for the EU to suspend its association agreement with Israel.
In addition to geopolitical issues, the two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening trade ties. The United Kingdom is the largest destination for Spanish goods outside of the EU, with export volume reaching €24.4 billion ($28.5 billion) in 2024. Sanchez is scheduled to meet with British companies at Downing Street, including Santander, BP, and AstraZeneca.
The meeting comes after Britain's announcement of a reset of relations with the EU in May 2023, five years after it left the bloc. The UK and Spain have also resolved disagreements around the British enclave of Gibraltar. They announced in June that they had agreed to remove border checks between Gibraltar and Spain, while also allowing the territory to enter a customs union with the EU.
Spain was one of four European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood in 2024. Sanchez's comments were made to British daily The Guardian.
The discussions between Sanchez and Starmer are likely to focus on key political and economic issues relevant to Europe and the UK, potentially including European stability, economic challenges, and diplomatic coordination amid ongoing geopolitical tensions such as the war in Ukraine and upcoming elections in various countries.
