Economic sanctions: In the 1970s and 1980s, some Western democracies imposed economic sanctions on Spain due to concerns about human rights violations and political repression under the Franco regime. While these sanctions were intended to put pressure on the regime to change its behavior, they also had negative economic consequences for the country as a whole, which may have made it harder for the newly established democracy to stabilize and grow.
Support for conservative forces: Some Western democracies may have provided support for conservative forces within Spain that were opposed to the progressive reforms of the early democratic period. For example, the Reagan administration in the United States was known to be sympathetic to the conservative Spanish government of Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez's opposition party, and this may have contributed to a sense of international isolation for the Spanish government at the time.
Political instability in Europe: In the 1980s and 1990s, many Western democracies were facing their own domestic challenges, including economic downturns, rising nationalism, and political polarization. This may have made it harder for these countries to provide consistent and effective support for Spain's democracy during a time when it was still vulnerable and in need of support from its international partners