 | |
 El Salvador |  Spain |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of El Salvador, Madrid | Embassy of Spain, San Salvador |
El Salvador andSpain have long-standing cultural and diplomatic relations, owing to the history of theSpanish Empire. Bilateral relations between the two as sovereign states began in 1865. Both nations are members of theAssociation of Academies of the Spanish Language,Organization of Ibero-American States and theUnited Nations.
The first known visit by Spaniards to what is now Salvadoran territory was made by the admiralAndrés Niño, who led an expedition to Central America. He disembarked in theGulf of Fonseca on 31 May 1522, atMeanguera island, naming it Petronila,[1] and then traversed toJiquilisco Bay on the mouth ofLempa River. The first indigenous people to have contact with the Spanish were the Lenca of eastern El Salvador.
In 1524, Spanish explorer and conquistadorPedro de Alvarado launched a campaign against thePipil people, the native inhabitants ofCuzcatlán (present day El Salvador). By 1528, Spanish troops defeated the Pipil warriors and established a permanent presence in present-daySan Salvador.[2]
After the conquest, the territory of El Salvador officially became part of theSpanish Empire and governed from theViceroyalty of New Spain inMexico City but administered by the regional capital inGuatemala City. Under the Spanish Empire, the territory of El Salvador became an agricultural heartland of the captaincy general ofGuatemala. Most of the land producedcocoa,coffee andindigo.[2]
In November 1811, independence movement leadersJosé Matías Delgado, a Catholic priest, and his nephew,Manuel José Arce issued a call for independence from Spain. Due to the movement, several uprisings took place throughout the territory, which were quickly suppressed by the Spanish authorities.[2] In 1821, the call for independence was endorsed by officials in Guatemala, however, El Salvador was opposed to its territory being incorporated into theMexican Empire under EmperorAgustín de Iturbide. Because of this issue, El Salvador was seeking to be annexed by theUnited States when in 1823, the Mexican Empire collapsed and El Salvador joined Guatemala,Honduras,Costa Rica andNicaragua in the jointUnited Provinces of Central America. The union was dissolved in 1839.[2]
On 24 June 1865, El Salvador and Spain established diplomatic relations and signed aTreaty of Peace and Friendship.[3] Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral relations between both nations have been limited. In 1936, El Salvador, under GeneralMaximiliano Hernández Martínez, recognized the government of GeneralFrancisco Franco.[4] In 1977, Spanish KingJuan Carlos I paid an official visit to El Salvador.[5]
During theSalvadoran Civil War from 1979 – 1992, Spain paid an active role in trying to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the government and theFarabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). In November 1989, five Spanish priests were assassinated at theCentral American University by Salvadoran soldiers.[6] In 1992, representatives of the Salvadoran government and the FMLN signed theChapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico City and was presided by representatives of the Spanish government.[7]
In 2007, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid a second visit to El Salvador.[8] The King returned again in 2008, accompanied by Spanish Prime MinisterJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to attend theIbero-American Summit being held in San Salvador. In 2010, Spanish airlineIberia launched direct flights from Madrid to San Salvador.[9]
Over the years, both El Salvador and Spain have signed numerous bilateral agreements and treaties such as: Treaty on consular protection (1953); Agreement on visa waiver for nationals of both nations (1959); Scientific and technical cooperation agreement (1988); Agreement on the promotion and protection of investments (1996); Extradition treaty (1997); Air transportation agreement (1997); and an Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (2008).[10]
There are direct flights between both nations withIberia.
In 2018, trade between El Salvador and Spain totaled US$306 million.[10] El Salvador's main exports to Spain include: coffee and tuna. Spain's main exports to El Salvador include: machinery, chemicals, plastics, drugs, electrical appliances and iron and steel foundry; food, cars and cosmetics.[10] Spain is El Salvador's eleventh biggest trading partner globally and sixth biggest foreign investor.[10] Spanish multinational companies such asMapfre,Telefónica andZara operate in El Salvador.
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