Foreign Policy of Spain

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2024: Spain's main Westerner in Mali

In May 2024, the states of the European Union decided not to renew the mandate of the EUTM mission in Mali after May 18, 2024.

Like MINUSMA, EUTM's activities have proved to be of little practical use. During her 11 years in residence, she caused only discussions of the European public and led to the deaths of several servicemen.

However, the current command of the mission in Madrid does not consider this act to be the final severance of ties with the Malian leadership. The Spanish Minister of Defense expressed a desire for other bilateral agreements and the preservation of the Spanish military presence in Mali.

At this time, Spain is the main conductor of European influence in the Sahel. So it is Spanish diplomats who make a significant contribution to keeping the pro-Western position of the Mauritanian authorities. Thus, they paved the way for subsequent projects by the Pentagon leadership.

The Spanish government is faced with the task of squeezing out Russian influence in Mali, wrote Rybar.

2023

Spain allocated a record amount for humanitarian aid to Ukraine: 38 million euros

The Spanish government has allocated 38 million euros for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister of the Kingdom Pedro Sanchez said in January 2023 in a congress of deputies (lower house of parliament).

The prime minister stressed that Spain will continue to assist Kyiv in the conflict, the consequences of which extend much further than the battlefield.

Earlier, Sanchez reported that Spain provided military support to the Ukrainian authorities in the amount of more than 300 million euros.

Spain and France strengthen cooperation in the field of defense and justice

The Council of Ministers of Spain in January 2023 authorized the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and France, which strengthens strategic cooperation in issues such as defense, cross-border issues and justice, and also contributes to the development of relations between the two countries.

The text, which was signed by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and French President Emmanuel Macron at a summit in Barcelona, is the first bilateral treaty to also address cooperation in areas such as economics, justice and education, among others.

The need to conclude a treaty of this nature and scope was resolved at the XXVI Spanish-French Summit, held in Montauban in March 2021, and since then both governments have been working on its formation.

By signing this treaty, Spain and France seek to systematize and institutionalize their bilateral relations, increasing the scope of their development and the degree of agreement in many areas of mutual interest, including bilateral coordination in organizations such as the EU or NATO.

Among the provisions of the treaty, it is worth highlighting the fact that for the first time a Franco-Spanish defense and security council is being created, which includes ministers of foreign affairs and defense, which will meet annually to consider issues of foreign policy, achievements in defense and security policy.

Cooperation in the fields of economy, industry, communications and tourism will also be developed by the relevant ministers, who will periodically meet to develop new cooperation and encourage the annual organization of the bilateral economic and business forum.

This agreement will also facilitate the transition to renewable energy, the development of interconnections between the two countries, and the coordination of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy.

2022

Spanish Defense Ministry sends 49 electric generators to Ukraine

"The goal of the Ministry of Defense and the three (private) companies involved in this delivery is for most of the nearly 50 pieces of equipment to be delivered to Odessa and other cities of Ukraine before Christmas... 60% (of deliveries) will leave in two days by a land convoy and arrive there before Christmas, and the rest will arrive before the New Year, "the press release said on December 13, 2022.

The ministry notes that part of the electric generators with a capacity of 660 kilowatts will be sent from Spain on December 15 to the logistics center for receiving and distributing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, located in Poland.

Spain allocated almost 270 million euros for military assistance to Ukraine

The Spanish government has sent almost 270 million euros to the military aid fund for Ukraine, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on November 21, 2022 at a meeting of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Madrid.

"We have provided substantial military support, defending Ukraine's legitimate right to defend its independence and territorial integrity... That is why Spain contributed almost 270 million euros to the European Peace Fund to deliver military equipment as part of European Union policy, "the Prime Minister said.

Sanchez recalled that since the beginning of the conflict, Spain has sent a significant number of military equipment, anti-aircraft missile systems, generators and cars to Ukraine. Also, the kingdom's government is actively engaged in training programs for Ukrainian military personnel. As part of this initiative, Spain plans to open a training center in Toledo by the end of November, the country's prime minister said.

In addition, he said that to strengthen the position of the alliance, Spain increased its military presence in Latvia to more than 600 troops, and also took part in the deployment of the naval and air forces of the Alliance in the region.

Algeria cuts ties with Spain over its support for Morocco over disputed territories

The Algerian Banking Association (Abef), an intermediary body between banks the Algerian government, announced on June 8, 2022 that from June 09, 2022 it would block all payments on foreign trade transactions for goods Spain in and out. Spain This is a measure affecting all sectors of the economy.

Algeria announced the interruption of relations between political, economic and investment cooperation, including in the field of power, which is enshrined in the Treaty of Friendship.

Algeria's ambassador to Spain is not in Madrid, but in Algeria, after being recalled for consultations in March, a day after the announcement of an agreement between Spain and Morocco.

Western Sahara belonged to the Spaniards until 1975. After their withdrawal, the territory was divided between Morocco (in the north) and Mauritania (in the east and south). By 1979, the latter also renounced its claims. But there was another player - the Polisario Front (this is short for Popular por la Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro).

Already in 1976, Front partisans with the support of Algeria (its relations with Morocco have deteriorated since the Sandstone War of 1963, and in August-2021 the countries broke off relations) proclaimed Western Sahara an independent state - the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). It was recognized by 84 states - but Russia is not among them.

So the UN could not decide who to support: Morocco, claiming the entire territory, or SADR, which de facto occupies a narrow strip along the border with Mauritania. The UN is demanding a referendum - but it has never been held in the three decades since the ceasefire agreement.

The situation escalated at the end of 2020, when the president USA Trump recognized the sovereignty of the Moroccans over the disputed territory (within the framework of the Abraham Agreements - that is, the Israeli factor also played a role).

To restore damaged relations with Morocco, Madrid, too, changed its position on Western Sahara, which has already caused discontent among Algeria. As a result, the latter suspended the agreement on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation with Spain from 2002, and as a result - trade relations.

According to UN Comtrade, the trade turnover of Algeria and Spain in 2021 amounted to $7.96 billion, of which $5.64 billion fell on Spanish exports.

As for gas supplies to Spain, the freezing of trade relations has not yet affected the implementation of the contract. However, such a development of events is not excluded - especially since in November Algeria had already closed the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which went through Morocco, leaving only a "straight" Medgaz pipe in operation.

But if it closes, then, in fact, Madrid will lose an important share (about 8 billion cubic meters. m) imported gas.

Supply of ammunition and other property to Ukraine against the background of the military special operation of Russia

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the sending of 200 tons of ammunition and other property for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv on April 21, 2022.

Military assistance loaded on 30 trucks and 10 SUVs will arrive on the Ysabel support vessel of the Spanish Navy to Poland, and then by land - to Ukraine.

Sanchez also announced the transfer of €111 million euros to the aid fund To Ukraine and the sending of humanitarian aid in the amount of €33 million euros.

Moreover, 50 Spanish medical examiners will arrive in Nezalezhnaya in the coming days to investigate war crimes.

When asked by Zelensky about the transfer of heavy weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the introduction of an embargo on Russian energy resources, Pedro Sanchez replied that "this is something that we can help at the moment."

1928

King Gustav V of Sweden congratulates King Alfonso XIII of Spain on his first successful hunt. Sweden, 1928.

1855

Reconstruction of sea routes according to the records of 280,000 ship logs.