Sánchez's foreign policy appears contradictory and risks damaging Spain's credibility. Requesting more gas from Algeria while championing EU regulations designed to reduce fossil fuel imports sends mixed signals. It undermines the very rules Madrid claims to support and may alienate EU partners who are making sacrifices to reduce dependence on non-Russian fossil fuels.
The deportation alliance is ethically problematic. Sending migrants to third countries with questionable human rights records violates international law and could expose Spain to legal challenges. Moreover, it may not deter migration but simply divert flows to other routes. On Israel, Spain's verbal condemnation without concrete consequences, such as sanctions, looks weak and emboldens hardline settlers. The Israel government has already dismissed similar EU statements.
As for Venezuela, pledging reconstruction aid without a clear plan or conditions on democratic reforms risks propping up the Maduro government without genuine change. Spain's taxpayers may end up funding a corrupt regime. These moves collectively suggest a government more focused on optics than on coherent, principled strategy.