The Role of Spain in the UN and the EU in the face of authoritarian regimes

Spain’s Attitude Toward Authoritarian Regimes Spain has avoided aligning with countries that have publicly rejected Iran and other authoritarian regimes like Cuba or China in international bodies where decisions are made and posts are distributed, an abstention that in practice amounts to a tacit endorsement.

This pattern has emerged in recent decisions at the United Nations, such as Iran’s election to the vice presidency of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) conference, and also at the European level, where Madrid is among the states hesitant to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Far from strict neutrality, this behavior places Spain on a distinct line from that of other Western allies who have expressed public objections.

Iran at the NPT: Spain Does Not Associate with Objections Iran was elected on April 27 to serve as one of the vice presidents during the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) review conference. The NPT is a one-month UN meeting bringing together 191 countries to evaluate the implementation of the pact.

This designation sparked international criticism, which Spain, however, did not publicly join. The United States led the opposition, calling the election an “affront” to the treaty. The position was supported by the United Arab Emirates and Australia. In Europe, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany expressed concerns.

Despite the stance of Western allies, Spain did not issue a statement or reject the Iranian candidacy, supported by the Non-Aligned Movement. This group consists of 121 developing countries, mainly from Africa and Asia.

“Rather than seizing this review conference to defend the integrity of the NPT and hold Iran accountable, we elected Iran as vice-president,” said Christopher Yeaw, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. He added that the decision was “more than shameful and undermines the credibility of this conference.”

The Iranian mission to international organizations in Vienna stated that Iran’s election as vice president of the conference was a recognition of Iran’s role and commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.

Spain Endorses Nominations of Authoritarian Regimes at UN On April 8, 2026, Spain approved without objection the appointment of dictatorial countries, including China, Cuba, and Iran, to UN bodies during the renewal of seats on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), responsible for coordinating economic, social, and development policies within the UN system.

On the same day, Spain also did not object to the by-acclamation appointment of China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan to the NGO Committee, an ECOSOC subsidiary influencing civil society participation in the UN system. The committee plays a crucial role in accrediting, granting access, and regulating the activities of thousands of NGOs, including human rights organizations.

Moreover, Iran was proposed without objection for the Programme and Coordination Committee, charged with overseeing UN programs for a three-year term starting in 2027.

The US dissented from the consensus on Iran’s nomination to the Programme and Coordination Committee. “The regime threatens its neighbors and, for decades, has violated the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their fundamental human rights,” a statement said.

Over 70 organizations warned against these nominations. UN Watch noted that entities like the International Service for Human Rights had negatively assessed several of these countries due to their human rights records. “Democracies have betrayed their principles,” the organization stated after the votes.

China was also elected to or proposed for several additional bodies, including the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the International Narcotics Control Board, and the Executive Board of the World Food Programme.

Russia was secretly elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, amid competing democracies during disputed elections.

Iran: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard and Double Standards in the Middle East On January 15, 2026, Spain was among the countries reluctant to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. Diplomatic sources cited by dpa argued that the Guard is already subject to EU sanctions and that such listing could completely sever diplomatic relations with Tehran.

This matter is particularly sensitive as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, especially its Qods Force, has been singled out for years for supporting Iran’s armed allies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

This web of influence puts Spain in a delicate position: on one hand, it maintains about 600 soldiers deployed in Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping mission; on the other, it actively advocates for the Palestinian cause diplomatically, while avoiding supporting tougher measures against one of Iran’s main external influence tools.

This caution contrasts with the position of other Western allies and fuels criticism that Spain not only avoids explicit condemnations within international bodies but also adjusts its response to actors linked to the Iranian regime – even when their activities directly affect areas where Madrid has diplomatic and military interests.

Public Discourse and Foreign Policy Decisions Publicly, Pedro Sánchez’s position on Iran was evident in his speech on March 4, 2026, where he rejected US and Israeli military operations against Iran as “illegal acts.” The Spanish Prime Minister defended “peace, an end to hostilities,” and argued that Spain should not repeat “past mistakes,” referring to the Iraq war.

This speech was accompanied by political measures against Israel in Congress and on the international stage, such as restricting arms trade and agreements with the Israeli state. However, various reports indicate that Spain has maintained exports of dual-use materials to Iran, despite the international tension.

According to media reports, these sales amounted to 327 million euros over the past two decades, making Tehran a recipient of sensitive products with civil and military applications. This element has become a major point of criticism of Spain’s foreign policy coherence.

Cuba: Democratic Conditions to Dialogue Without Demands In 2017, under Mariano Rajoy’s government, Spain supported the ratification of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. This agreement replaced the former EU Common Position towards Havana, approved in 1996 under José María Aznar’s government.

The essential difference is that the Common Position conditioned EU cooperation on verifiable progress towards a pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights, while the new agreement focused on political dialogue and institutional cooperation with the Cuban regime.

In October 2020, Cuba was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 period via a secret ballot. Despite organizations like Human Rights Watch urging not to reward governments responsible for grave human rights violations with seats in this organ before the election, there is no official Spanish statement rejecting Cuba’s election.

Furthermore, on July 3, 2025, the Spanish government announced a debt conversion program towards Cuba worth 375 million euros. This sum would not be…

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