Skip to main content

Diplomatic ambitions of Spain exceed its actual influence

1 min Mena Today

On Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Jordan on the sidelines of a conference focused on aid to Gaza.

Conference on aid to Gaza currently being held in Jordan

Conference on aid to Gaza currently being held in Jordan

On Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Jordan on the sidelines of a conference focused on aid to Gaza.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Mikati expressed his gratitude to the Spanish government for its "continuous support to Lebanon in all areas, particularly through Spain's active participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)." 

He also congratulated Prime Minister Sanchez on Spain’s decision to "officially recognize the State of Palestine following its vote at the United Nations in favor of full membership for the State of Palestine."

Pedro Sanchez is known for his strong pro-Palestinian stance, one of the few European leaders to hold such a position. His government’s decision to recognize Palestine underscores Spain's commitment to Palestinian statehood and reflects a broader advocacy for Palestinian rights within the international community.

However, during the conversation, Sanchez did not address the daily attacks by Hezbollah on Israeli territory. This omission highlights a significant gap in Spain's diplomatic approach, as Hezbollah's actions remain a critical issue in the regional conflict.

The Spanish diplomatic corps is perceived to have limited influence in broader Middle Eastern geopolitics. Pedro Sanchez's partisan stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is seen as potentially undermining Spain's diplomatic effectiveness, particularly in fostering balanced and comprehensive peace initiatives.

By Antoine Khoury 

Related

Saudi Arabia

Washington and Riyadh unite against Muslim Brotherhood

Riyadh has thrown its weight behind Washington's move to blacklist Muslim Brotherhood branches across the Middle East, marking a significant escalation in the regional crackdown on the Islamist movement.

Gaza

US expected to unveil post-war Gaza leadership, sources say

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected on Wednesday to push ahead with his phased plan for Gaza's future by announcing the administration that will run the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, four Palestinian sources said.

Iran

Death toll from Iran approaches 2,600, rights group reports

The death toll from unrest in Iran climbed to almost 2,600, a rights group said on Wednesday, as Tehran stepped up diplomatic contacts with U.S.-allies in the region over a crisis that has drawn threats of intervention from President Donald Trump.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Mena banner 4

To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.

  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.