Progressive leaders from around the world convened in Barcelona on Saturday to unite in defending the multilateral rules-based order in a shifting global landscape. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hosted events centred on democracy and progressive politics, emphasising concerns about increasing attacks on the multilateral system and international law.
While no leaders publicly named Donald Trump, his unilateral approach to foreign policy loomed over the discussions. During the event, Sánchez noted, “We all see the attacks against the multilateral system and the normalisation of the use of force.”
On the same day, Trump criticised Sánchez on social media for denying the US access to military bases in Spain for operations related to Iran and for not raising military spending from 2% to 5% of GDP.
“Has anybody looked at how badly the country of Spain is doing. Their financial numbers, despite contributing almost nothing to NATO and their military defence, are absolutely horrendous. Sad to watch!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Spain, like the US and other developed countries, is in debt but has a strong economy under Sánchez’s leadership. At a recent rally, he stated that the far-right “screams and shouts not because they are winning, but because they know their time is running out.” He criticised their embrace of climate change denial, xenophobia, and sexism, declaring, “From now on, they can be the ones who feel ashamed.”
The IV Meeting in Defence of Democracy was attended by leaders such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as officials from the UK and Germany. Later, at the inaugural Global Progressive Mobilisation, around 6,000 left-leaning officials and activists gathered to share ideas. German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil remarked, “The far right is international, so we must be too.”
US Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, criticised Trump and celebrated Viktor Orbán‘s recent electoral loss in Hungary.
“Donald Trump is out to end our democracy,” Murphy said. “We are not on the verge of a totalitarian takeover; we are in the middle of it.” But, he said, “Americans are watching what is happening across the world, and the victory in Hungary just one week ago lifted our sails.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz criticised US Vice President JD Vance for campaigning for Orbán and supporting far-right parties in Europe.
“Unlike our current vice president, I’m not here to arrogantly lecture or scold you; I am not here to pick a fight with the Pope or host a rally for any local wannabe authoritarians,” Walz said.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former US presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Sen. Bernie Sanders all sent video messages that were played at the rally.
South African President Ramaphosa announced plans to present a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly in September for establishing an International Panel on Inequality to address the growing wealth gap.
Sheinbaum proposed that governments spend 10% of their military budgets on reforestation projects, stating, “Instead of planting the seeds of war, we will plant the seeds of life.”
Sánchez emphasised the need to regulate social media to combat hate speech and is working with Brazil’s Lula on a tax for the ultrarich.
In a meeting with Sánchez, Lula focused on the progressive movement. She urged UN Security Council members to “fulfill their obligation and guarantee peace,” stating, “Stop this madness of war, as the world cannot bear any more.”
