Pedro Sánchez participated in a G20 marked by major absences such as that of Donald Trump, convinced that, despite being in the minority in these international forums, which are increasingly moving to the right, it is important to maintain the clearly progressive and multilateralist discourse that has dominated his seven years in government. In the plenary session of the G20 in South Africa, of which Spain is not a member, but a permanent guest, Sánchez launched a clear left-wing speech against the accumulation of wealth, inequality, the unjust international tax system and the cut in development aid which, as he explained with recent studies, could cause the death of 22 million people around the world.
“We meet at a time of profound uncertainty for the world economy, sustainable development and multilateralism,” Sánchez began. “Earlier this week, a Spanish think tank reported that more than 22 million people could die worldwide before 2033 due to cuts in official development assistance. These figures are truly terrifying and are just one example of the tragic consequences of the trends we are witnessing,” he insisted.
However, Sánchez believes that another world is possible and recalls the conclusions of the UN summit in Seville on development cooperation. “The Stiglitz report, commissioned under South Africa’s presidency of the G20, has issued a stark warning. We face an inequality emergency as serious and systemic as the climate emergency. Extreme concentration of wealth undermines growth, corrodes democratic institutions and fuels polarization. To address this situation, fair international taxation is needed. We need tax rules fit for the 21st century,” added the Spanish Prime Minister.
“Rising protectionism is eroding the foundations of global growth. Tariffs are not a weapon, they are a barrier. That is why it is more urgent than ever to strengthen the multilateral trading system, restore the central role of the World Trade Organization and update it for the world we live in,” he insisted, in a speech that is the antithesis of the world of tariffs proposed by Trump.
Sánchez concluded his speech with a reference to Ukraine, a central issue on the sidelines of the summit, where all European representatives gathered, including the Spanish president, to try to send a message against the United States’ threats to make Kiev accept losing part of its territory. “Inclusive and sustainable development is impossible without peace. We must defend the principles of the United Nations Charter. Both in Ukraine and Palestine. This means defending sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and ensuring strict compliance with international humanitarian law. Without peace, without respect for multilateral rules, our efforts on trade, development and inequality will not succeed,” concluded the President.
