Sanchez’s Corruption Scandal Spreads Uncontrollably

At the heart of these anti-government protests is a major scandal surrounding Prime Minister Sanchez’s family and key figures in the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party. Currently, Sanchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, and his younger brother, David Sanchez, are under investigation by judicial authorities for influence peddling and corruption charges. Furthermore, José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Transport and known as one of Sanchez’s closest confidants, has also been indicted on corruption charges. Even former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, considered Sanchez’s political mentor, is under investigation for alleged money laundering and involvement in an international corruption network, leading to a dominant assessment that the entire left-wing coalition government faces a moral crisis.

Anti-Government Roars Engulf Madrid and Opposition Offensive

On May 24 (local time), approximately 80,000 citizens, according to organizers, and 40,000, according to police estimates, gathered in central Madrid, shouting for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Protesters waved Spanish flags and chanted slogans such as:

• “Down with the pro-China, anti-American left-wing government!”
• “Corrupt government, step down!”
• “Sanchez, resign!”
• “Don’t drag Spain into communism!”

The offensive from the opposition has intensified with the participation of the main opposition (PP) and the right-wing . In particular, the opposition and protesters strongly criticize the Sanchez government for politically exploiting large-scale immigration policies to cover up the government’s crisis, and in doing so, exacerbating social unrest and public insecurity. Indeed, during the protests, there were strong calls for the government to strengthen border control and change its policies, along with arguments that disorderly immigration policies lead to social instability and deteriorating public safety.

Government Collapse Crisis, Uncertainty in Spanish Politics

The Sanchez left-wing coalition government faces its biggest political collapse crisis since coming to power. As the judicial authorities’ investigation closes in on his family and widespread anti-government sentiment explodes, the government’s position appears to be narrowing. Furthermore, criticism has also been raised that the Sanchez government is excessively close to left-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America, such as Venezuela and Cuba, leading to growing dissatisfaction with its foreign policy. While the overall economic situation is robust, persistent high inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks amplify doubts about the government’s crisis response capabilities.

Currently, the Spanish political situation is truly on a rollercoaster. With corruption scandals, large-scale protests, and controversies surrounding the government’s morality, the future of Spanish politics is expected to follow an unpredictable course.

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To be frank, such internal conflicts are not new. However, the mention of suspending a specific member state’s membership, as in this case, is unprecedented. It is fair to say that NATO is now facing its biggest test since its inception. Especially at the Ankara Summit scheduled for July, there is a crucial task to mend these internal conflicts and demonstrate the alliance’s unity. This is why all eyes are on Ankara.

U.S. ‘Suspension’ Email: The Real Reason Spain Is Upset

According to recent Reuters reports, internal U.S. Department of Defense emails mentioned potential measures against Spain due to a lack of allied support for the Iran war. This reportedly included the possibility of suspending Spain’s NATO membership. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed these email reports, emphasizing that policy is based on official documents and positions, but the incident clearly reveals discord within the alliance. In fact, Spain has refused the U.S. military’s use of its bases and airspace for the Iran war, a firm stance based on Spain’s commitment to operating within the bounds of international law.

• U.S. Grievance: Lack of allied support for Access, Basing, and Overflight (ABO) rights related to the Iran war.
• Spain’s Position: Cooperation with the alliance within the framework of international law, but judging U.S.-Israeli actions related to the Iran war as violating international law.
• Limitations of the NATO Treaty: The NATO founding treaty does not contain explicit provisions for the suspension or expulsion of member states. Therefore, while the content of the email is unlikely to materialize, the controversy itself has fractured alliance relations.

2026 Ankara Summit: ‘Cohesion’ is the Biggest Challenge

The 36th NATO Summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara, Turkey, from July 7 to 8, 2026. This summit is an important occasion to elaborate on the increased defense spending (targeting 5% of GDP by 2035) and defense industry strengthening measures agreed upon at last year’s Hague Summit. Especially amidst complex international security situations such as the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East, NATO’s unity is more crucial than ever. However, as with the aforementioned conflict with Spain, reconciling internal disagreements within the alliance is expected to be difficult. European security chiefs are even warning of a potential Russian invasion of NATO territory between 2027 and 2030, making a strong display of cohesion at this meeting a key challenge.

• Key Agenda:
  • Achieving defense spending targets and strengthening defense industry capabilities
  • Strengthening deterrence and defense posture against the Russian threat
  • Fostering unity among allies and resolving internal conflicts
• Summit Venue: Beştepe Presidential Palace, Ankara, Turkey
• Expected Discussions: Seeking constructive solutions to issues concerning Greenland and the Strait of Hormuz.

Cyber Defense Exercise ‘Locked Shields 2026’, South Korea Participates

Beyond a military alliance, NATO continues active cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. A prime example is ‘Locked Shields 2026’, an international cyber attack defense exercise organized by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), held from April 20 to 24. South Korea’s AhnLab and the National Intelligence Service also participated as part of the Korea-Hungary joint team, demonstrating their response capabilities across the entire process, including detecting and blocking intrusion attacks, analyzing attack origins, and securing evidence in complex attack scenarios close to real-world environments. This strengthens the cyber crisis response capabilities among NATO member states and highlights the importance of international cooperation against evolving cyber threats.

• Exercise Objective: Strengthening cyber threat response capabilities of NATO member states and partner nations.
• South Korean Participation: AhnLab, National Intelligence Service, and other South Korean representatives participated in the technical training field as part of the Korea-Hungary joint team.
• Exercise Content: Scenario-based training similar to real-world situations, including detecting and blocking intrusion attacks, analyzing attack origins, identifying causes of breaches, and securing evidence.

This incident with Spain starkly illustrates the complex challenges facing NATO. It is a time when strengthening internal cohesion against external threats is more important than ever. It remains to be seen whether the Ankara Summit will serve as an opportunity to overcome these difficulties and explore new avenues for the alliance, or if the rifts of conflict will only deepen. Ultimately, NATO’s future depends on the wise choices of its member states.

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