Spanish PM Sanchez says 'shame on those who support' war: 'On what grounds is this being done?'

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva co-chaired a meeting titled "Meeting to Defend Democracy" in Barcelona, Spain, which brought together left-leaning leaders from Europe, Africa, and Latin America. In the program, which was also attended by figures such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and European Council President Antonio Costa, Sanchez directed criticism toward the far-right, anti-immigration sentiment, and the restriction of freedoms.

In his speech at the meeting, which took place while European far-right leaders were gathering in Milan, Italy, to oppose immigration, Sanchez said, "Today in Spain, we are approving and advancing a process that will grant legal status to half a million immigrants. To the right and far-right wing that opposes this, I want to say: Spain is the daughter of immigration and will not be the mother of xenophobia."

Arguing that the loud voice of the far-right stems from a period of collapse rather than a rise, Sanchez said, "People are realizing that they have no projects, no solutions. They have only applied hatred, empty slogans, and wrong policies that bring only war, inflation, inequality, and social division to the world. That is all they have given to the world."

The Spanish leader stated, "Shame on those who remain silent in the face of injustice. Shame on those who exploit workers, declare those who are different as criminals, treat rights as a matter of negotiation, defend the privileges of elites, and support war and violence in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, Lebanon, and the Middle East."

He said the UN must be reformed

In his speech, Sanchez declared that the United Nations (UN) must be reformed, saying, "We believe in a rules-based international order. However, the multilateral system needs to be renewed. The UN can only survive if it represents reality."

Emphasizing the necessity of a more democratic and more representative UN, the Spanish leader said, "The time has come for the renewal of the UN. Perhaps it should even be led by a woman. Why not?"

Referring to Israel, the US, and Russia, Sanchez said, "We see a dangerous normalization of attacks on the multilateral system and the use of force."

Silva reacts to interventions in Iran and Lebanon

Brazilian President Silva expressed his reaction to the marginalizing rhetoric directed at Latin American and Arab countries. Silva said, "We need to stop lying about those we want to eliminate. Latin America is portrayed as a world of drug trafficking. The Arab world is portrayed as a world of terror. So, who is good in this world?"

The Brazilian leader stated, "The invasion of Iraq was built on a lie. Where are the weapons of mass destruction that (former Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein supposedly possessed? They were never found. The justification for the intervention of France and Britain in Libya was another lie that caused immense damage at that moment in our history. The occupation and genocide carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip are also based on another huge lie. So, on what grounds is Israel's bombardment of Lebanon being carried out now? On what grounds is the US intervention against Iran being carried out now?"

The meeting served as an opportunity for rapprochement in Spain-Mexico relations

The meeting in Barcelona, Spain's second-largest city, also served as an opportunity for rapprochement between Spain and Mexico, whose relations have been cold for a long time. Upon her arrival in Barcelona, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that there was no diplomatic crisis between the two countries and that such a thing "never happened." The summit, which was held for the fourth time this year, will take place in Mexico next year.