FOREIGN
RELATIONS
After
the return of democracy following the death of General Franco
in 1975, Spain's foreign policy priorities were to break out of
the diplomatic isolation of the Franco years and expand diplomatic
relations, enter the European Community, and define security relations
with the West.
As a member
of NATO since 1982, Spain has established itself as a major participant
in multilateral international security activities. Spain's EU
membership represents an important part of its foreign policy.
Even on many international issues beyond Western Europe, Spain
prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through
the European political cooperation mechanism.
With the
normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel and Albania
in 1986, Spain virtually completed the process of universalizing
its diplomatic relations. The only country with which it now does
not have diplomatic relations is North Korea.
Spain
has maintained its special identification with Latin America.
Its policy emphasizes the concept of Hispanidad, a mixture of
linguistic, religious, ethnic, cultural, and historical ties binding
Spanish-speaking America to Spain. Spain has been an effective
example of transition from authoritarianism to democracy, as shown
in the many trips that Spain's King and Prime Ministers have made
to the region. Spain maintains economic and technical cooperation
programs and cultural exchanges with Latin America, both bilaterally
and within the EU.
Spain
also continues to focus attention on North Africa, especially
on Morocco. This concern is dictated by geographic proximity and
long historical contacts, as well as by the two Spanish enclave
cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa. While
Spain's departure from its former colony of Western Sahara ended
direct Spanish participation in Morocco, it maintains an interest
in the peaceful resolution of the conflict brought about there
by decolonization. These issues were highlighted by a crisis in
2002, when Spanish forces evicted a small contingent of Moroccans
from a tiny islet off Morocco’s coast following that nation’s
attempt to assert sovereignty over the island.
Meanwhile,
Spain has gradually begun to broaden its contacts with Sub-Saharan
Africa. It has a particular interest in its former colony of Equatorial
Guinea, where it maintains a large aid program.
In relations with the Arab world, Spain has sought to promote European-Mediterranean dialogue. Spain strongly supports the EU's "Barcelona Process" which seeks to expand dialogue and trade between Europe and the nations of North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel. It is seen by some as too greatly favoring the European Union. Other proposals are on the table, including one put forward by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. The latest meeting on the Barcelona initiative was held on November 29, 2005.
Spain
has been successful in managing its relations with its two European
neighbors, France and Portugal. The accession of Spain and Portugal
to the EU has helped ease some of their periodic trade frictions
by putting these into an EU context. Franco-Spanish bilateral
cooperation is enhanced by joint action against Basque ETA terrorism.
Ties with the United Kingdom are generally good, although the
question of Gibraltar remains a sensitive issue.
U.S.-SPANISH
RELATIONS
Spain and the United States have a long history of official relations
and are closely associated in many fields. In addition to U.S.
and Spanish cooperation in NATO, defense and security relations
between the two countries are regulated by a 1989 Agreement on
Defense Cooperation, revised in 2003. Under this agreement, Spain
authorized the United States to use certain facilities at Spanish
military installations.
The two
countries also cooperate in several other important areas. Under
a 1964 agreement (currently being renegotiated), the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Spanish National
Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) jointly operate the Madrid
Deep Space Communications Complex in support of Earth orbital
and solar system exploration missions. The Madrid Complex is one
of the three-largest tracking and data acquisition complexes comprising
NASA's Deep Space Network.
An agreement
on cultural and educational cooperation was signed on June 7,
1989. A new element, supported by both the public and private
sectors, gives a different dimension to the programs carried out
by the joint committee for cultural and educational cooperation.
These joint committee activities complement the binational Fulbright
program for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting
professors, which became the largest in the world in 1989. Besides
assisting in these exchange endeavors, the U.S. Embassy also conducts
a program of official visits between Spain and the United States.
Spain
and the U.S. are strong allies in the fight against terrorism.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Eduardo Aguirre, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Mission--Hugo Llorens
Counselor for Management Affairs--Michael S. Hoza
Counselor for Agricultural Affairs--Stephen Hammond
Counselor for Commercial Affairs--Jim Wilson
Counselor for Consular Affairs--Daniel Keller
Counselor for Economic Affairs--James Dudley
Counselor for Political Affairs--Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick
Counselor for Public Affairs--Josie S. Shumake
The U.S. Embassy is located at Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid (tel. 34-91-587-2200; fax 34-91-587-2303). Consulate General, Barcelona, Paseo Reina Elisenda 23, Barcelona 08034 (tel. 34-93-280-2227; fax 34-93-205-5206).
