When he met with the Germans and Italians, Franco's remarks had more or less confirmed this point. But once the setting changed, he put on an entirely different face.
"The Germans and Italians are far too complacent. Although they do hold the advantage now, that is still not secure enough for us."
Franco had already seen off the guests from Germany and Italy when he said this to his confidants.
Sunyer, Franco's chief political adviser, said, "Your Excellency, Head of State, we have already boarded Germany and Italy's ship. It is unrealistic to think we can get off anytime soon."
Franco understood this as well, so he did not deny it. "That is also why I did not directly reject them just now. Before the civil war, we accepted the stakes they offered us. Naturally, we cannot turn against those two countries now."
"Moreover, we still need their support to restore the national economy after the war."
Sunyer said, "If that is the case, then in our future dealings with Germany and Italy, we can only resort to delay tactics to avoid becoming too deeply bound to them."
Franco did not shy away from this. "Spain truly has been battered half to death by the war. We can fully use the severe destruction of our industry, agriculture, and national infrastructure to fob off Germany and Italy."
"At least in the short term, Spain truly does not have the ability to become embroiled in another war."
The strategy of dragging things out was also the Spanish government's only effective means of dealing with Germany and Italy. In other words, Franco only wanted benefits from Germany and Italy, yet had no desire whatsoever to shoulder the responsibilities of an "ally."
From this perspective, neither of Germany's two European allies was reliable. Italy