Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described Europe's response to the war in the Gaza Strip as a "failure," according to an interview with The Guardian on September 3.

"It is a failure. Absolutely," Sánchez told the British daily ahead of his visit to the UK. "The reality is that even within the EU, countries are divided on how to influence Israel."

He added, "If we want to increase our credibility when other crises like Ukraine arise, we cannot continue this way. Although the origins of these wars are completely different, the world is ultimately looking at the EU and the West and asking, 'Why do you have double standards on Ukraine and Gaza?'"

Sánchez, a center-left politician, was one of the first major European leaders to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza in June. Spain was also one of the first major European countries to recognize Palestine as a state last May.

"What we are witnessing in Gaza will be one of the darkest episodes in 21st-century international relations," he said. "Spain is raising its voice the loudest within the EU and the international community on this matter."

Sánchez also clashed with the Donald Trump administration over Spain's opposition to NATO raising its defense spending target to 5% of GDP.

"Spain is a reliable partner of NATO," Sánchez asserted, adding, "We have a pragmatic approach to our relationship with the United States. We will work to maintain the best possible relationship with the U.S."

He also emphasized that Europe needs to take on a larger role as the U.S. shakes up the international order.

"The United States, the main architect of the international order after World War II, is now weakening it," he said, arguing that Europe must act consistently while remaining faithful to its transatlantic relationship.

"To do so, we must avoid double standards," he continued. "We need to be more committed to environmental agreements, embrace a humanitarian and moral vision, and be pragmatic about immigration."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]