Sanchez: Middle East Conflict Is 'Far Worse' Than the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

'Far Worse Than Iraq' — Sánchez's Warning to Congress

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has delivered a stark assessment of the ongoing Middle East conflict to the Spanish Congress, warning that what is unfolding now is considerably more dangerous than the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

"This is not the same scenario as the illegal war in Iraq. We are facing something far worse. Much worse. With a potential impact that is far broader and far deeper," Sánchez told parliament on Wednesday.

He went further in his characterisation of the current conflict: "This time, it's an absurd and illegal war. A cruel one that sets us back from achieving our economic, social, and environmental goals."

Lessons from Iraq — and Why This Is Different

Sánchez drew a direct line between the consequences of the Iraq war and the risks of the current conflict. He argued that the 2003 invasion failed on its own terms, and in doing so worsened conditions for ordinary people across the world — driving up fuel and food costs, increasing migration pressures, and fuelling jihadist attacks across Europe.

The current conflict, he suggested, carries the potential for consequences on an even greater scale. The warning was pointed and personal:

"Every bomb that falls in the Middle East eventually hits — as we are already seeing — the wallets of our families."

And he made clear where he stands on who should bear that cost: "It is not fair that some set the world on fire while others bear the ashes. It is not right that Spaniards and other Europeans should pay out of their own pockets for this illegal war."

Spain Refuses US Use of Military Bases

Sánchez's speech came against the backdrop of a significant diplomatic confrontation with Washington. His government has rejected requests from the United States to use Spanish military bases — including the Rota naval base and Morón airbase — for operations against Iran.

The decision has drawn a sharp response from President Donald Trump, who threatened to cut trade ties with Spain over the refusal. Sánchez has held firm.

The move appears to have public support behind it. According to a survey published in El País earlier this month, 53.2% of Spaniards back the government's refusal to allow the United States to use the Spanish bases for strikes against Iran.

A €5 Billion Emergency Package

Beyond the diplomatic dimension, Sánchez's government has taken concrete economic steps to shield Spanish households from the fallout of the conflict. Last week, the cabinet approved a €5 billion emergency package designed to soften the economic blow — including measures such as tax cuts on fuel.

The package reflects the government's position that the economic consequences of the conflict — rising energy prices, supply chain disruption, and inflationary pressure — are already being felt by Spanish families, and that the state has a responsibility to respond.

The Iraq Parallel in Spanish Politics

Sánchez's repeated references to the Iraq war carry particular resonance in Spanish political memory. The decision by the then-ruling People's Party (PP), led by José María Aznar, to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq was deeply unpopular in Spain and triggered some of the largest street demonstrations the country had ever seen.

That stance became politically toxic after the Madrid bombings of 11 March 2004, carried out by an Al-Qaeda cell that cited Spain's involvement in Iraq. The PP government's initial attempts to blame the Basque separatist group ETA for the attacks — widely seen as an attempt to prevent the war from becoming the dominant election issue — backfired catastrophically. The Socialists won the general election held just three days later in what was widely regarded as a direct consequence of the Iraq decision.

By invoking Iraq, Sánchez is drawing on a chapter of Spanish political history that still runs deep — and positioning his current stance as the opposite of the PP's 2003 error.

This article is based on reporting from Spain in English, published March 25, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.