Spain's China Gambit: Pedro Sánchez, Strategic Autonomy, and the European Turn to Beijing — with Mario Esteban Rodríguez

Spain’s evolving relationship with China reflects a strategic shift toward pragmatism and consistency under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has visited Beijing four times in four years. Mario Esteban Rodríguez, a professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid and senior fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute, explains that Spain is leveraging a window of opportunity to become a leading European voice for constructive engagement. While maintaining its NATO and EU commitments, Spain is increasingly critical of American foreign policy disruptions, particularly regarding the wars in Iran and Gaza, viewing China as a necessary stabilizing force in a multipolar world. Key economic drivers include addressing a massive trade deficit through increased agricultural exports and attracting high-quality Chinese investment in green technologies like electric vehicles. Despite these openings, Spain remains structurally integrated with the U.S. economy, suggesting its China gambit is a bid for strategic autonomy rather than a total pivot.