Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered a forceful warning against renewed nuclear rearmament during remarks at the Munich Security Conference, cautioning that major powers are repeating dangerous mistakes of the past as global instability deepens.

“Experts estimate that the United States alone will invest $946 billion in nuclear weapons over the next decade — enough to eradicate extreme global poverty,” Sánchez said. “In my view, this is a mistake — a historic error that we cannot commit again.” He went further, issuing a direct appeal to nuclear-armed states: “I beg you: prevent the launch of a new arms race while it is still possible. Humanity will be forever grateful if you do — and it will judge you harshly if you don’t.”

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez:

Experts estimate that the US alone will invest $946 billion in nukes over the next decade — enough to eradicate extreme global poverty. pic.twitter.com/Rpa4yuzGq1

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 14, 2026

He went further, issuing a direct appeal to nuclear-armed states: “I beg you: prevent the launch of a new arms race while it is still possible. Humanity will be forever grateful if you do — and it will judge you harshly if you don’t.”

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez:

I beg you: prevent the launch of a new arms race while it is possible.

Humanity will be forever grateful if you do, and it will heavily judge you if you don’t. pic.twitter.com/kKQmLSK2GP

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 14, 2026

Sánchez framed his remarks around what he described as a turning point in global security policy, with nuclear powers collectively spending more than $11 million every hour to expand their arsenals. He argued that the resurgence of nuclear rearmament comes at a particularly perilous time, “with artificial intelligence casting a shadow of uncertainty over the entire world.”

“We Spaniards are far away from Russia,” Sánchez said, “but we know quite well that Putin is a real threat, that the world is becoming more unstable, and that we Europeans must strengthen our defense capabilities to protect our freedom and way of life, and to provide security guarantees to our international partners.”

He emphasized that Spain has significantly increased its defense posture in recent years, tripling defense spending since he became prime minister and doubling the number of Spanish troops deployed in NATO missions. “We need, of course, to ensure our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and our security,” he said.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez:

Since I became Prime Minister, Spain has tripled its defense spending and has doubled the number of soldiers deployed in NATO missions.

We need, of course, to ensure our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and our security.

But I strongly… pic.twitter.com/sg9qXKxmDP

— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 14, 2026

But Sánchez drew a clear line between strengthening conventional defenses and expanding nuclear arsenals. “I strongly believe that nuclear rearmament is not the right way to do it,” he said, arguing that past generations had already confronted the risks inherent in nuclear deterrence.

He recalled how, roughly 70 years ago, leaders concluded that nuclear deterrence was both prohibitively expensive and dangerously fragile. It required massive public investment and depended on the absence of error in systems that, on multiple occasions, came close to triggering catastrophic conflict between the West and the former Soviet Union.

Now, he argued, that consensus is eroding. He urged powerful nations to halt nuclear rearmament and negotiate a new strategic arms reduction agreement to replace the recently expired New START treaty. “Please stop nuclear rearmament. Sit down, negotiate, and sign a new START treaty to ensure continuity of the one that has just expired,” he said.

Speaking as the leader of a non-nuclear state, Sánchez also referenced Spain’s experience in 1966, when U.S. nuclear bombs were accidentally dropped on Spanish territory during a military operation, as a reminder of the risks posed by such weapons even outside wartime.

While reiterating the need to counter Russian aggression and strengthen deterrence, Sánchez called for a coordinated European response. He advocated for building a true European army without delay and pledged that Spain would contribute the necessary resources. He also called for reinforcing and reforming multilateral institutions that, despite their flaws, have helped maintain peace in the West for decades.

“The rearmament we most urgently need in the world is a moral one,” Sánchez concluded, urging renewed investment in solidarity, empathy and cooperation as geopolitical tensions rise.