When the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran two weeks ago, the response from European leaders was muted and ambiguous. Uneasy about the strikes but unwilling to condemn Donald Trump outright.
There was one notable exception, however: Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister of Spain. As he would say in his public announcement – explaining to Spaniards why he had not allowed the US to use two military bases – the Spanish government’s position could be summarised in four words: ‘no a la guerra’, no to war.
Madrid-based journalist Guy Hedgecoe talks to Nosheen Iqbal about why Sanchez has taken such a firm stance and the threats Trump has made in response. Could it be, facing elections next year, that Sánchez has also saved his premiership too?
