Sánchez demands immediate EU army, warns Israel against 'new Gaza in Lebanon'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged immediate establishment of a European army to boost continental security, speaking at the European Pulse Forum 2026 in Barcelona on Friday. He condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza and warned against allowing "a new Gaza in Lebanon," citing Lebanese health officials reporting over 250 casualties and 1,100 injured from recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Sánchez accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "contempt for life and international law" and called on the EU to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. Netanyahu responded by removing Spain from the Gaza ceasefire coordination center and accusing Spain of engaging in a "diplomatic war" against Israel. Spain, which recognizes Palestine and recently recalled its ambassador to Israel, has been vocal on the issue since Israel's military action in Gaza began after the Hamas attack in October 2023.
While this European security proposal and Israel-Lebanon tension unfold globally, Nigerians should consider how evolving EU defense policies and Middle East conflicts might affect international aid flows, diplomatic relations, and global stability that impact Nigeria's foreign policy and economic partnerships.