Rajoy warns that “aligning” with “dictatorships” like China is a “huge mistake”

The Diplomat Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned this Wednesday, April 29, that “Europe’s place in the world” must be “the bloc of democracies,” to which “the United States, the EU, and a few others” belong, and therefore, “aligning” with “dictatorships” like China is “a huge mistake.” “In today’s world, there are two blocs: the bloc of democracies, the market economy, and social policies—that includes the United States, Europe, and a few others—and another bloc without democracy, with little social protection, and in some cases, with aggressive capitalism—that includes Russia, China, and everything around them,” Rajoy stated during his participation in a round table discussion at the 4th edition of the La Toja Atlantic Link 2026 Forum, “The Atlantic Relationship and the Future of Europe,” held at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. “In my opinion, Europe’s place in the world remains within the bloc of democracies, and aligning itself with others for circumstantial reasons, with dictatorships, is a huge mistake,” he warned. “Democracy is not just a matter of economics: it is about higher values, it is the rule of law, it is the state of law, it is political pluralism,” he added. In contrast, he warned, China “is supporting Russia on the issue of Ukraine, with absolute clarity,” and is “supporting Latin American dictatorships.” In his remarks, Rajoy did not mention the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who in mid-April made an official visit to Beijing and declared, after meeting with President Xi Jinping, that it is necessary for “China, as the great power it is, to increase its efforts to combat the climate emergency, as it is doing; to contribute to reducing poverty, as it is doing; and also, logically, to contribute through its diplomatic efforts to resolving conflicts and wars that plague the world.” That was Pedro Sánchez's fourth official visit to China in the last four years, following those in March 2023, September 2024, and April 2025. Mariano Rajoy, of the People's Party and Sánchez's predecessor as Prime Minister (between 2011 and 2018), himself traveled to China three times: in September 2014, September 2016, and May 2017. Robles and Seguro At the forum's closing ceremony, Defense Minister Margarita Robles emphasized that "supporting Ukraine is much more than just supporting Ukraine," because "we are not only defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty, but also what should unite us as Europeans: the values of peace, freedom, human rights, international law, dialogue, and coexistence." She also warned of the situation in Africa, specifically in “countries like Sudan, which are being bled dry by wars and are being ignored,” or Mali, which, in recent days, has been experiencing “a significant increase in the power of jihadism.” Likewise, the minister defended the “strengthening” of the transatlantic bond, but also advocated for a NATO in which “no ally belittles another” and in which “everyone respects the others,” referring to the harsh criticism from US President Donald Trump against Spain and other allies for not supporting him in his joint offensive with Israel against Iran. “The Atlantic Alliance has been a defensive organization that defends the values we share and believe in; together we must reinforce democratic values,” she warned. [caption id="attachment_142246" align="alignnone" width="750"] Margarita Robles[/caption] For his part, the President of Portugal, António José Seguro, declared that the two Iberian countries “share the conviction that Europe is a cause that must be defended” at “a time of uncertainty in which multilateralism is at risk and war has reached the continent.” He also warned that “Europe faces significant challenges, such as demographic ones,” which “no longer respect borders.” “We live in a time of transition in which 21st-century Europe cannot be governed with tools from the last century,” he added. [caption id="attachment_142248" align="alignnone" width="750"] António José Seguro[/caption] Similarly, the President of the European Council, António Costa, warned in a video message that “the European Union must support a rules-based policy, maintaining cooperation and avoiding conflict and chaos, to ensure prosperity.” [caption id="attachment_142250" align="alignnone" width="750"] António Costa[/caption] At the opening ceremony, the Spanish Ambassador to Lisbon, Juan Fernández Trigo, stated that Spain and Portugal are “two countries that desperately needed Europe to develop their full potential, but also to provide their people with what they deserve.” “Europe has been an opportunity for closer ties: today we understand each other better,” he added.

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