Spain’s Sánchez defies Washington as domestic popularity surges
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is walking a fine line between rising popularity at home and growing tension abroad, as his refusal to align with key US positions cements his image as one of Europe’s more defiant leaders.
From opposing US involvement in Venezuela to rejecting NATO’s defence spending targets and advancing strict social media rules, Sánchez has emerged as a steady counterweight to President Donald Trump’s assertive foreign policy. His stance has irritated officials in Washington and even unsettled some European allies, yet at home Spaniards appear to applaud his resolve.
According to a recent YouGov poll, 66 per cent of Spaniards now view the US unfavourably, a steep rise from 45 per cent before Trump’s second term. Public sentiment echoes Sánchez’s positions across the board: majorities oppose US interventionism, criticise Israel’s actions in Gaza, and overwhelmingly – more than 80 per cent – back his plan to curb social media use among teenagers under 14. Though defence cuts divide voters, they remain popular among his left-wing base.
Analysts say Sánchez is playing to a familiar theme in Spanish politics – independent identity and anti-Trump sentiment – to bolster his domestic standing amid legislative deadlock. “He’s tapping into a deep well of mistrust toward US influence that dates back decades,” says one Madrid-based political observer. “It’s smart politics with limited economic risk.”
Indeed, Spain’s modest trade deficit with the US shields it from potential retaliatory tariffs, giving Sánchez space to manoeuvre. Former foreign minister Arancha González Laya puts it succinctly: “Spain has no desire to hide its policies, and that stands out amid the silence of others.”
For now, Sánchez seems content to project strength from Madrid rather than seek friends in Washington, trading diplomatic friction for political momentum at home.
