Sánchez advocates that the Summit transmit the message that they will defend "every centimeter of allied territory"

He assures that Sweden and Finland will enter NATO "sooner or later" although he would like it to be in Madrid

MADRID, 28 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has advocated that the NATO Summit being held this week in Madrid send a message of dissuasion and convey that they are willing to defend "every centimeter of allied territory", as he has indicated.

"We have to transmit a message of deterrence, that we are prepared to defend every centimeter of allied territory," Sánchez said in an interview with the Associated Press, collected by Europa Press.

Sánchez has expressed himself in this way after the doubts about the treatment that the new Strategic Concept that is approved at the Madrid Summit will give to the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and that will mark the lines of action of the Alliance for the next ten years.

In this regard, from the PSOE they indicated this Monday that the Summit will serve to include "for the first time" the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla under the umbrella of the Atlantic Alliance, according to the spokesman for the Socialist Federal Executive. Philip Sicily. However, several members of the Executive who have been asked about it have not clarified this point.

Sánchez --who has not specifically mentioned Ceuta and Melilla-- has indicated that the main purpose of the Summit will be to launch "a message of unity in line with democracy, security and the international order based on rules that, unfortunately, , (President Vladimir) Putin and Russia have shattered with the invasion of Ukraine."

Thus, he has pointed out that "Putin is not only invading Ukraine" but also wants to destabilize and weaken the security and prosperity of Europe.

On the other hand, on the possible accession to NATO of Sweden and Finland, Sánchez has stated that it will take place "sooner or later", he has indicated. "We would like it to be at the Madrid Summit, I am not going to deny it, but if this is not the case, the talks will continue", she pointed out.

The main stumbling block for these additions is Turkey, which is seeking guarantees from the two Nordics regarding Kurdish groups that Ankara considers terrorists.

Sánchez underlined that the new Strategic Concept --whose last update was made at the Lisbon Summit in 2010-- will completely change the relationship with Russia, which will no longer be considered a partner and will become "the main threat to security of NATO", as he specified. However, for Sánchez China represents "a challenge that also offers opportunities for collaboration", as he has expressed.

Finally, regarding the possibility of a negotiated end to the war, even though this means that Ukraine could lose part of its territory, due to the effects that the war is having on energy prices and food supplies, Sánchez has been clear in his support for kyiv's action. "It is a decision that Ukraine must make, not us," he has settled.