European security independence dominated coverage, continuing previous days' militarization trend. Morning reports highlighted Europe "accelerating military plans" amid "US distancing," with defense spending increases straining Spain's budget. By afternoon, Sánchez warned that Spain's primary threats come "from the South" via "terrorism from failed Sahel states" while advocating European rearmament. Von der Leyen pushed for defense spending "above 3%" and announced regular security meetings.
Meanwhile, renewed violence in Syria received prominent coverage, with El Mundo reporting "the horror returns" with "entire families being killed." Ukraine's military adaptation to reduce Trump dependence emerged as Ukraine continued operating with significantly less US aid than Trump claimed.
Other developments included storm Jana weakening but still causing river overflows, Moscow announcing plans to rebuild Mariupol's symbolic Azovstal steelworks, and Trump pressuring Spanish energy companies to invest in the US.