Duvi Honig is Founder & CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
In moments of real threat, leadership is not measured by statements-it is measured by decisions.
And just as importantly-by what goes unchallenged.
Spain’s recent actions were not symbolic. They were defining.
At a time when the United States is actively engaged in protecting not only its own interests, but Spain itself, Israel, and the broader Western world, Spain chose to close its airspace to American aircraft.
Let that sink in. An ally-protected by American power-is now shutting its doors on the very country fighting to defend it.
At the same time, Spain officially recalled its ambassador to Israel.
And let’s not forget-it has claimed it “sadly cannot" confront Israel, citing a lack of nuclear capabilities.
These were not mixed signals. They were clear decisions.
And what followed is even more dangerous.
Silence.
Because when actions like this are not immediately and forcefully condemned, they do not stay isolated-they spread.
And that is exactly what we are now witnessing.
France has followed.
Reports now indicate that France blocked aircraft carrying critical military supplies to Israel from passing through its airspace. President Donald Trump responded sharply, warning that the United States “will remember."
This is not coincidence. This is consequence.
Silence in the face of Spain’s actions has now opened the door for other European nations to follow suit-testing the limits of alliance, and redefining what it means to stand with the United States and Israel.
But President Trump went even further-calling out the broader double standard.
He made clear that the United States cannot be expected to carry the burden of securing global trade routes, energy flow, and military stability while allies hesitate or refuse to stand alongside it. Referencing the Strait of Hormuz, he pointed directly at European dependence on U.S. protection, making a blunt point: if nations benefit from security, they must be willing to contribute to it.
The message was simple-America will not continue to carry those who refuse to stand with it.
This is exactly how alliances begin to erode.
What starts as one country making politically driven immoral decisions quickly becomes a pattern-one that weakens the entire Western structure.
Spain’s leadership is choosing politics over the security of its own citizens-and over the alliances that have protected it for decades.
Because when you shut down cooperation with the United States and distance yourself from Israel at a time when both are confronting real threats to the Western world, you are not being neutral-you are taking a side.
And now others are following that lead.
Countries must choose a side.
And what we are witnessing is not just Spain-but a growing shift across Europe.
Let’s not forget how Spain has no problem trying to be sympathetic to the enemy-the same country that says it cannot confront Israel over alleged threats to Palestinian Arabs because it lacks nuclear capability (!).
What we are witnessing is bigger than Spain.
It is a warning sign for Europe.
Across parts of Europe, internal political pressures are beginning to dictate national security decisions-driven by failed immigration policies-failing to properly vet entrants and allowing extremist elements in-which have created internal pressures now influencing leadership in ways that risk their own national security.
That is how leadership weakens.
Policies that were once framed as humanitarian have, in many cases, created internal dynamics that now influence foreign policy and security decisions. When leadership becomes constrained by those pressures, hesitation replaces strength-and security takes a back seat.
And when those decisions are not challenged-they spread.
Spain was the first signal.
France is now the confirmation.
If this continues, others will follow.
That is how the Western alliance begins to fracture-not all at once, but step by step, decision by decision, silence by silence.
The United States and Israel continue to stand on the front lines, confronting threats that impact the entire Western world. The expectation is not agreement on every issue-but it is clarity when it matters most.
Closing airspace. Recalling ambassadors. Blocking military support-these are not the actions of allies.
They are the actions of countries stepping away from alliances.
And that should concern every citizen they are meant to protect.
Because when leadership puts politics over security-and when those decisions go unchallenged-it is the people who ultimately pay the price.
Spain-and now France-and Europe as a whole must decide what kind of leadership they will offer in this moment.
One driven by fear of political consequences.
Or one grounded in strength, responsibility, and the courage to stand with allies when it matters most.
The pattern is no longer emerging.
It is here.
And it must be confronted-now.