Rising tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran are reshaping regional dynamics while also highlighting the deepening ties between T\u00fcrkiye and Spain, as both countries voice support for peace and take a critical stance against Israel\u2019s bloody actions.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the two NATO allies, which previously co-led the \u201cAlliance of Civilizations\u201d initiative, share a converging outlook that could pave the way for expanded cooperation across multiple sectors in the period ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strong chemistry between the two countries appears to be the key factor enabling their movements and leaders to act in harmony, despite coming from different political traditions,\u201d professor Ozan \u00d6rmeci, a political scientist and general coordinator of the International Political Academy (UPA), told Daily Sabah.<\/p>\n
\u00d6rmeci pointed out parallel political trajectories in both countries as a key driver of alignment, noting that Spain\u2019s legacy of civil war and its strong socialist and social democratic traditions, reflected today in a left-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, echo the early 2000s period when the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party was in power under Jose Luis Rodr\u00edguez Zapatero and co-launched the Alliance of Civilizations initiative.<\/p>\n
As the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, launched in 2005 by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan and then-Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero, was later adopted by the United Nations.<\/p>\n
It was established in response to rising mistrust, fear and polarization between Muslim countries and Western societies, which were seen as being exploited by extremist elements, with the aim of preventing further deterioration through a broad international coalition and promoting mutual respect among cultures.<\/p>\n
Since its launch, the alliance has gained increasing visibility and is now recognized as a leading initiative with global reach.<\/p>\n
He added that Spain\u2019s continued emphasis on human rights, international and humanitarian law, and minority protections finds a counterpart in T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s political evolution, where the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), led by Erdo\u011fan, emerged from a struggle against military tutelage with a comparatively strong discourse on democracy and legal norms.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeft-leaning governance in Spain and sustained leadership in T\u00fcrkiye since the 2000s have fostered overlapping perspectives, particularly on humanitarian law and concerns over injustices affecting Muslim communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opposition to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has recently united Spaniards and Turks<\/a>. Sanchez\u2019s staunch stand against the war, despite threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, recently sparked a newfound interest in Spanish foreign policy among T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s social media community.<\/p>\n Canan Tercan, assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul Ayd\u0131n University, also asserted that Spain and T\u00fcrkiye have drawn international attention for their assertive and principled stances in the Gaza war<\/a>, the conflict in Ukraine and recent tensions in the Middle East, positioning themselves as prominent voices on global justice.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite lacking shared structural foundations, the two countries have displayed similar foreign policy approaches,\u201d she noted, highlighting what was described as an unusual alignment between geographically distant partners.<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye, like Spain, has refused to take sides in the ongoing war and equally criticized both parties while urging for diplomatic means to resolve their differences.<\/p>\n The European country has already won the admiration of the Turkish public for demonstrating the most passionate opposition to Israel\u2019s massacres in Gaza.<\/p>\n Tercan underlined that political leadership has played a decisive role in the rapprochement between Spain and T\u00fcrkiye, noting that government policies ultimately shape countries\u2019 positions. In a Europe where far-right, exclusionary movements are on the rise, the administration of Sanchez has stood out for its emphasis on peace and justice, acting as a balancing force between East and West in an increasingly polarized continent.<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye, which has long upheld similar principles, has welcomed this approach as President Erdo\u011fan has repeatedly described Sanchez as a \u201cfriend\u201d in recognition of his consistent calls for peace on international platforms, she added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, President Erdo\u011fan, last week, renewed T\u00fcrkiye’s commitment to the cease-fire in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, saying T\u00fcrkiye is making the “necessary appeals and initiatives” to reduce tensions, extend the cease-fire and continue diplomatic talks during the parliamentary group meeting.<\/p>\n Erdo\u011fan also praised Sanchez, saying he “congratulates from the heart my dear friend Sanchez, who has taken a firm stance against the threats of butcher Netanyahu in Gaza.”<\/p>\n On the other hand, besides diplomatic ties, \u00d6rmeci also drew attention to the strength of the economic dimension between the two countries, stressing the bilateral trade reaching about $20 billion and remaining largely balanced.<\/p>\n \u201cTrade flows are reciprocal; what T\u00fcrkiye imports, it also exports at similar levels, and the same applies for Spain,\u201d he noted, reminding that Spain has consistently ranked as T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s eighth-largest trading partner in recent years<\/p>\n Amid regional and international developments, T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s trade ties with nearby countries have drawn attention, with improving relations between Ankara and Madrid also reflected in stronger bilateral commerce.<\/p>\n According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s exports to Spain rose 4.1% year-on-year in the first two months of 2026<\/a>, reaching $1.6 billion and marking the highest January-February performance on record.<\/p>\n \u00d6rmeci also said defense industry cooperation could be cited as a lesser-known pillar of Ankara-Madrid relations, noting that both countries are generally seen as maintaining a largely peaceful posture.<\/p>\n \u201cSpain is widely viewed as a peace-oriented country, and also T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s military planning is primarily shaped by defensive needs and its obligations within the NATO alliance,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n