Sánchez and Lula take a stand against war and the shift to the right

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (right) and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speak to the media in Barcelona. Photo: Joan Monfort/AP/dpa

Keystone

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have called for peace, democracy and international cooperation following a meeting in Barcelona. Both also called for a world order that respects the sovereignty of states. "While others are opening wounds, we want to close them," said Sánchez at a joint press conference.

Keystone-SDA

17.04.2026, 18:55

Lula lamented to journalists in the Pedralbes Palace in the Catalan metropolis: "We are experiencing a new arms race, stunned". Turning to Sánchez, he added: "I fully understand when you say: no to war." Meanwhile, Sánchez emphasized that the governments in Madrid and Brasilia shared a common view of the world, which was "characterized by the defense of democracy and respect for international law, human rights and peace".

The "I Spain-Brazil Summit" is the first in a series of international gatherings of left-wing, social democratic and other progressive forces to counterbalance the "global right" on Friday and Saturday in Barcelona. According to the Spanish government, the aim is to "defend democracy and multilateralism" in turbulent times.

"A historic moment"

The focus on Saturday will be the "4th Conference for the Defense of Democracy", which will also be attended by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and EU Council President António Costa are among those expected to attend. The "Global Progressive Mobilization" will also take place with representatives from around 40 countries.

It is "the first global meeting of its kind and a historic moment", said Klingbeil. The SPD co-chair is a member of the executive committee of the Progressive Alliance, a network of more than 130 social democratic and socialist parties founded in Leipzig in 2013.

At their summit meeting, Sánchez and Lula signed several agreements. These include agreements on critical raw materials, on more bilateral cooperation in the areas of science, technology and innovation, as well as an agreement on gender equality and combating violence against women.