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Theforeign relations of Spain could be constructed upon the foreign relations of theHispanic Crown. The personal union ofCastile andAragon that ensued with the joint rule of theCatholic Monarchs was followed by the annexation of theKingdom of Granada and theKingdom of Navarre. The crown also built alarge colonial empire in the Americas after the arrival of Columbus to the New World in 1492.
The Spanish Habsburg monarchs had large holdings across the European continent stemming from the inherited dominions of theHabsburg monarchy and from the Aragonese holdings in the Italian Peninsula. The Habsburg dynasty fought against the ProtestantReformation in the continent and achieved a dynastic unification of the realms of the Iberian Peninsula with their enthronement as Portuguese monarchs after 1580. The American colonies shipped bullion, but resources were spent in wars waged against France in Italy and elsewhere as well as in conflicts against theOttoman Empire,England or revolts in the Spanish Netherlands, Portugal (lost after 1640) and Catalonia. Mainland Spain was the main theatre of theWar of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), after which theBourbon dynasty consolidated rule, while handing in holdings in Italy and the Netherlands. The successive BourbonFamily Compacts underpinned a close alignment with the Kingdom of France throughout the 18th century. During the Napoleonic Wars, Mainland Spain was occupied by theFrench Empire (which installed a puppet ruler), and became after an 1808 uprising the main theatre of thePeninsular War. Nearly all its colonies fought for and won independence in the early 19th century. From then on it kept Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, otherwise lost in 1898 after theSpanish–American War, and, in line withfar-reaching efforts by other European powers, Spain began to sustain a colonial presence in the African continent, most notably in Western Sahara and Equatorial Guinea. It alsointervened in Nguyễn Vietnam alongside France and involved in the affairs of former colony Santo Domingo, which briefly returned to Spanish control. In the wake of the creation of a Spanish protectorate in Northern Morocco, the early 20th century saw adraining conflict against Riffian anti-colonial resistance. Spain stuck to a status of neutrality duringWorld War I.
TheSpanish Civil War of 1936–1939 became a proxy war between the axis powersGermany andItaly and theSoviet Union (which lost). The war ensued with the installment of adictatorship under Francisco Franco lasting until 1975. In the aftermath of World War 2, the series of multilateral agreements and institutions configuring what it is known today asWestern Europe were made apart from Francoist Spain.[1] The1953 military agreements with the United States entailed the acceptance of unprecedented conditions vis-à-vis the (peacetime) military installment of a foreign power on Spanish soil.[2] Spain joined the UN in 1955 and the IMF in 1958.[3] In the last rales of the dictator, the mismanaged decolonisation ofSpanish Sahara ensued with theMoroccan invasion of the territory in 1975 and thepurported partition of it between Morocco and Mauritania, spawning a protracted conflict pitting the Sahrawi national liberationPolisario Front against Morocco and (briefly) Mauritania lasting to this day. Spain joinedNATO (1982) andentered the European Communities (1986).
On a wide range of issues, Spain often prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political cooperation mechanisms. In addition to being represented via EU membership, Spain is a permanently invited guest to allG20 summits.[4]
In 218 BC theRomans invaded theIberian Peninsula, which later became the Roman province ofHispania. The Romans introduced theLatin language, the ancestor of both modern-daySpanish andItalian. The Iberian peninsula remained under Roman rule for over 600 years, until thecollapse of the Western Roman Empire.
In theEarly modern period, until the 18th century,southern andinsular Italy came under Spanish control, having been previously a domain of theCrown of Aragon.
Charles V (1500–1558) inherited vast lands across Western Europe and the Americas, and expanded them by frequent wars.[5] Among other domains he was King of Spain from 1516, and Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519. As head of the rising House of Habsburg during the first half of the 16th century, his dominions in Europe extending from Germany to northern Italy with direct rule over the Austrian hereditary lands and the Burgundian Low Countries, and a unified Spain with its southern Italian kingdoms of Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia. His great enemy on land was France, on the Mediterranean Sea it was the Ottoman Empire, which at times was allied with France. England and the Papacy were sometimes part of the coalition against him. Much of his attention focused on wars in Italy. At theDiet of Augsburg (1547) he secured recognition that the Netherlands belonged to the Hapsburg domain. However Charles was intensely Catholic and the northern Netherlands was Protestant. He and his Spanish heirs fought for a century against Dutch independence; despite the enormous cost they failed.[6]
Philip III has a poor reputation in terms of both domestic and foreign policy. He inherited two major conflicts from his father. The first of these, the long-runningDutch revolt, represented a serious challenge to Spanish power from the ProtestantUnited Provinces in a crucial part of theSpanish Empire. The second, theAnglo–Spanish War was a newer, and less critical conflict with Protestant England, marked by a Spanish failure to successfully bring its huge military resources to bear on the smaller English military.[7]
Philip's own foreign policy can be divided into three phases. For the first nine years of his reign, he pursued a highly aggressive set of policies, aiming to deliver a 'great victory'.[8] His instructions to his most important advisorDuke Lerma to wage a war of "blood and iron" on his rebellious subjects in the Netherlands reflects this.[9] After 1609, when it became evident that Spain was financially exhausted and Philip sought a truce with the Dutch, there followed a period of retrenchment; in the background, tensions continued to grow, however, and by 1618 the policies of Philip's 'proconsols' were increasingly at odds with de Lerma's policy from Madrid.[10]
TheWar of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) saw Spain in a nearly helpless position as multiple European powers battled for control over which of three rivals would be king. At first most of the warfare took place outside of Spain. However, in 1704 Spain was invaded by the Germans (officially by theHoly Roman Empire includingHabsburg Austria andPrussia, as well as other minor German states), Great Britain, theDutch Republic, theDuchy of Savoy and Portugal. The invaders wanted to make the Habsburg candidate king instead of the incumbentPhilip V who the grandson of France's powerful kingLouis XIV and candidate of theHouse of Bourbon. Spain had no real army, but it defense was a high priority for Louis XIV who sent in his French armies and after a devastating civil war eventually drove out the invaders from Spain.[11][12]
After years of warfare and changing coalitions, the final result was that Philip V remained king. In practice his wifeElisabeth Farnese ruled Spain from 1714 until 1746, and was more interested in Italy than Spain. Spain was not even invited to the peace treaties (Peace of Utrecht); they forbade any future possibility of unifying the French and Spanish crowns. Britain was the main winner; it blocked France from becoming too powerful. Britain acquired Minorca and Gibraltar from Spain, as well as the right to sell slaves to Spanish colonies. Britain also gained Newfoundland and Nova Scotia from France. Spain kept its American colonies but lost its European holdings in Italy and the Spanish Netherlands (modern Belgium), mostly to Austria. Spain briefly regained some Italian holdings until the British sank its fleet in 1718. Elisabeth Farnese succeeded in recapturing Naples and Sicily. She put her son on the throne there. He abdicated in 1759 to return to Madrid as KingCharles III of Spain.[13][14]
Eager to gain revenge on the British for its defeat during the Seven Years' War, France offered support to rebel American colonists seeking independence from Britain during theAmerican War of Independence and in 1778 entered the war on their side. They then urged Spain to do the same, hoping the combined force would be strong enough to overcome the BritishRoyal Navy and be able to invade England. In 1779 Spain joined the war, hoping to take advantage of a substantially weakened Britain. Distrustful of republics, Spain did not officially recognize the new United States of America.[15]
A well-organised force underBernardo de Galvez operating out ofSpanish Louisiana launched repeated attacks on British colonies in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. They were easy winners against weak British garrisons, and were planning an expedition against Jamaica when peace was declared in 1783.
Spain's highest priority was to recapture Gibraltar from Britain using theGreat Siege of Gibraltar.[16] Despite a prolonged besiegement, the British garrison there was able to hold out until relieved and it remained in British hands following theTreaty of Paris. Unlike their French allies (for whom the war proved largely to be a disaster, financially and militarily) the Spanish made a number of territorial gains, recovering Florida andMenorca.[17][18]
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A neutral country duringWorld War I, Spain was not invited to take part in the1919 Paris Peace Conference, owing to the country's relative low profile in international affairs.[19] It was however invited to join theLeague of Nations as a non-permanent member and it formally did so on 14 August 1919.[19] During the so-calledWilsonian moment in international relations, forces adversarial to the Spanish State such as the Rifis vying for international recognition oftheir proto-republic and the Catalan separatist movement emboldened.[19]
Spain has maintained its special identification with its fellow Spanish-speaking countries. Its policy emphasizes the concept of anIbero-American community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of "Hispano-Americanismo" (or Hispanic as it is often referred to in English), which has sought to link theIberian peninsula to theSpanish-speaking countries in Central and South America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy, as shown in the many trips that Spain's King and prime ministers have made to the region.[20]
Spain maintains economic and technical cooperation programs and cultural exchanges with Latin American countries, both bilaterally and within the EU. DuringJosé María Aznar's government, Spanish relations worsened with countries like Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba, but were exceptionally good with others, like Colombia, the Dominican Republic and severalCentral American republics.José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's victory in the 2004 general elections changed this setting. Despite long-standing close linguistic, economic and cultural relations with most of Latin America, some aspects of Spanish foreign policy during this time, such as its support for the Iraq War, were not supported or widely favored.
Spain has gradually begun to broaden its contacts withSub-Saharan Africa. It has a particular interest in its former colony ofEquatorial Guinea, where it maintains a largeaid program. More recently, it has sought closer relation withSenegal,Mauritania,Mali and others to find solutions for the issue ofillegal immigration to theCanary Islands.[21]
In the Middle East, Spain is known as a broker between powers. In its relations with theArab world, Spain frequently supports Arab positions on Middle East issues. The Arab countries are a priority interest for Spain because of oil and gas imports and because several Arab nations have substantial investments in Spain.[22]
Spain has been successful in managing its relations with its three immediate European neighbours,France,Andorra, andPortugal. The accession of Spain and Portugal to the EU in1986[23] has helped ease some of their periodic trade frictions by putting these into an EU context.Franco-Spanish bilateral cooperation has been enhanced by joint action against recurring violence by separatistBasque groupETA since the 1960s.[citation needed] Ties with theUnited Kingdom are generally good, although the question ofGibraltar remains a sensitive issue, especially since the UK vote onBrexit.[citation needed]
Today, Spain is trying to expand its still narrow relations withEast Asian nations,[24] with China, Japan and South Korea as its main points of interest in the region. Thailand and Indonesia are Spain's main allies in theASEAN region, having a considerable number of agreements and a very good relationship. In the recent years Spain has also been boosting its contacts, relations and investment in other Asian countries, most notably Vietnam and Malaysia. Relations with the Philippines are, despite a very longcolonial past, considerably weaker than the ones Spain has with other countries in the area, dealing mostly withcultural aspects and humanitarian assistance programs.[25]
Whilst thedisputed on Gibraltar with Great Britain is the best known territorial dispute of Spain, the country also has disputes with Portugal and Morocco.
Ever since it wascaptured in 1704 by Anglo-Dutch forces during the War of the Spanish Succession, Gibraltar has been the subject of a dispute between Britain and Spain. Situated at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, overseeing theStrait of Gibraltar which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, the territory has great strategic importance. Today, Gibraltar is aBritish Overseas Territory and houses an important base for the British Armed Forces.[26]
Then a Spanish town, it was conquered during theWar of the Spanish Succession on behalf ofArchduke Charles, pretender to the Spanish throne.The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in 1713 by theTreaty of Utrecht, in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown[27] stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first. Since the 1940s Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar. The overwhelming majority ofGibraltarians strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.[28] UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.[29][30]
The Spanish claim makes a distinction between theisthmus that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland on the one hand, and the Rock and city of Gibraltar on the other. While the Rock and city were ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain asserts that the "occupation of the isthmus is illegal and against the principles ofInternational Law".[31] The United Kingdom relies onde facto arguments of possession byprescription in relation to the isthmus,[32] as there has been "continuous possession [of the isthmus] over a long period".[33]
The strategic position of the Strait of Gibraltar has left a legacy of a number of sovereignty disputes.[34] These include the "five places of sovereignty" (plazas de soberanía) on and off the coast of Morocco: the coastal enclaves ofCeuta andMelilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands ofPeñon de Alhucemas,Peñon de Vélez de la Gomera, andIslas Chafarinas. Spain maintains sovereignty over Ceuta, Melilla, Peñon de Velez de la Gomera, Alhucemas and the Chafarinas Islands (captured following the Christian reconquest of Spain) based upon historical grounds, security reasons and on the basis of the UN principle ofterritorial integrity. Spain also maintains that the majority of residents are Spanish. Morocco claims these territories on the basis of the UN principles ofdecolonisation, territorial integrity and that Spanish arguments for the recovery of Gibraltar substantiate Morocco's claim.[35]Spain claims sovereignty over thePerejil Island, a small, uninhabited rockyislet located in the South shore of theStrait of Gibraltar. The island lies 250 metres (820 ft) just off the coast of Morocco, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) fromCeuta and 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) from mainland Spain. Its sovereignty is disputed between Spain and Morocco. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in 2002. The incident ended when both countries agreed to return to the status quo ante which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted and without any sign of sovereignty.
Olivenza (Spanish) or Olivença (Portuguese) is a town and seat of a municipality, on a disputed section of the border between Portugal and Spain, which is claimedde jure by both countries and administeredde facto as part of the Spanishautonomous community ofExtremadura. The population is 80% ethnic Portuguese and 30% of Portuguese language. Olivenza/Olivença was under continuous Portuguese sovereignty since 1297 until it wasoccupied by the Spanish in 1801 and formally ceded by Portugal later that year by theTreaty of Badajoz. Spain claims thede jure (legal) sovereignty over Olivenza/Olivença on the grounds that the Treaty of Badajoz still stands and has never been revoked. Thus, the border between the two countries in the region of Olivenza/Olivença should be as demarcated by that treaty. Portugal claims thede jure sovereignty over Olivenza/Olivença on the grounds that the Treaty of Badajoz was revoked by its own terms (the breach of any of its articles would lead to its cancellation) when Spain invaded Portugal in thePeninsular War of 1807.[36]
Portugal further bases its case on Article 105 of theTreaty of Vienna of 1815, which Spain signed in 1817, that states that the winning countries are to "endeavour with the mightiest conciliatory effort to return Olivenza/Olivença to Portuguese authority". Thus, the border between the two countries in the region of Olivenza/Olivença should be as demarcated by the Treaty of Alcanizes of 1297. Spain interprets Article 105 as not being mandatory on demanding Spain to return Olivenza/Olivença to Portugal, thus not revoking the Treaty of Badajoz. Portugal has never made a formal claim to the territory after the Treaty of Vienna, but has equally never directly acknowledged the Spanish sovereignty over Olivenza/Olivença. Portugal continues to claim Olivenza/Olivença, asserting that under theVienna Treaty of 1815, Spain recognized the Portuguese claims as "legitimate".
Another dispute surrounds theSavage Islands, which Spain acknowledges to be part ofPortugal. However, Spain claims that they are rocks rather than islands, and therefore Spain does not accept the PortugueseExclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles) generated by the islands, while acknowledging theSelvagens as possessingterritorial waters (12 nautical miles). On 5 July 2013, Spain sent a letter to the UN expressing these views.[37][38]
List of countries which Spain maintains diplomatic relations with:
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Country[39] | Date |
| 1 |  Portugal | 5 October 1143[40] |
| 2 |  France | 1486[41] |
| 3 |  United Kingdom | 1505[42][failed verification] |
| 4 |  Denmark | 1 April 1516[43] |
| — |  Holy See | March 1559[44] |
| 5 |  Netherlands | 29 June 1649[45] |
| 6 |  Sweden | 1651[46] |
| 7 |  United States | 20 February 1783[47] |
| 8 |  Russia | 20 July 1812[48] |
| 9 |  Brazil | 6 June 1834[49] |
| 10 |  Uruguay | 17 July 1835[50] |
| 11 |  Greece | 6 December 1835[51] |
| 12 |  Mexico | 28 December 1836[52] |
| 13 |  Ecuador | 16 February 1840[53] |
| 14 |  Iran | 4 March 1842[54] |
| 15 |  Chile | 25 April 1844[55] |
| 16 |  Venezuela | 30 March 1845[56] |
| 17 |  Bolivia | 21 July 1847 |
| 18 |  Costa Rica | 10 May 1850[57] |
| 19 |  Nicaragua | 21 March 1851[58] |
| 20 |  Dominican Republic | 18 February 1855[59] |
| 21 |  Argentina | 1855[60] |
| 22 |  Italy | 5 May 1856[61] |
| 23 |  Guatemala | 18 June 1864[62] |
| 24 |  El Salvador | 24 June 1865[63] |
| 25 |  Japan | 12 November 1868[64] |
| 26 |  Thailand | 23 February 1870[65] |
| 27 |  Monaco | 2 June 1876[66] |
| 28 |  Peru | 15 November 1879[67] |
| 29 |  Paraguay | 10 September 1880 |
| 30 |  Colombia | 30 January 1881[68] |
| 31 |  Romania | 5 July 1881[69] |
| 32 |  Luxembourg | 9 February 1891[70] |
| 33 |  Honduras | 11 June 1896 |
| 34 |  Cuba | 21 June 1902[71] |
| 35 |  Panama | 10 May 1904[72] |
| 36 |  Norway | 26 November 1905[73] |
| 37 |  Bulgaria | 5 August 1910[74] |
| 38 |  Serbia | 14 October 1916[75][76] |
| 39 |  Finland | 16 August 1918[77] |
| 40 |  Czech Republic | 19 June 1919[78] |
| 41 |  Poland | 17 September 1919[79] |
| 42 |  Belgium | 21 January 1921[80] |
| 43 |  Egypt | 9 May 1922[81] |
| 44 |  Turkey | 27 September 1924 |
| 45 |  Austria | 14 June 1925[82] |
| 46 |  Ireland | September 1935[83] |
| — |  Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 19 November 1938[84] |
| 47 |  Switzerland | 14 February 1939[85] |
| 48 |  Hungary | December 1944[86] |
| 49 |  Philippines | 27 September 1947[87] |
| 50 |  Syria | 3 April 1948[88][89] |
| 51 |  Lebanon | 15 April 1949[85] |
| 52 |  Iceland | 20 September 1949[90] |
| 53 |  Haiti | 6 November 1949[85] |
| 54 |  South Korea | 24 March 1950[85] |
| 55 |  Liberia | 5 May 1950[85] |
| 56 |  Jordan | 6 July 1950[85] |
| 57 |  Iraq | 5 August 1950[85] |
| 58 |  Ethiopia | 27 April 1951[91] |
| 59 |  South Africa | 18 May 1951[85] |
| 60 |  Pakistan | 17 September 1951[85] |
| 61 |  Saudi Arabia | 17 July 1952[85] |
| 62 |  Germany | 6 November 1952[85] |
| 63 |  Canada | 21 February 1953[92] |
| 64 |  Sri Lanka | 10 July 1955 |
| 65 |  Morocco | 26 June 1956[85] |
| 66 |  India | 7 November 1956[85] |
| 67 |  Tunisia | 8 July 1957[85] |
| 68 |  Indonesia | 28 February 1958[93] |
| 69 |  Afghanistan | 28 October 1958[94] |
| 70 |  Libya | 14 January 1961 |
| 71 |  Nigeria | 10 February 1961[85] |
| 72 |  Mauritania | 15 April 1961[85] |
| 73 |  Cameroon | 10 November 1961[85] |
| 74 |  Algeria | 18 December 1962[85] |
| 75 |  Sudan | 20 February 1964 |
| 76 |  Gabon | 25 February 1964[85] |
| 77 |  Sierra Leone | 6 March 1964[85] |
| 78 |  Laos | 20 March 1964[95] |
| 79 |  Kuwait | 17 April 1964[85] |
| 80 |  Ivory Coast | 12 June 1964[85] |
| 81 |  Mali | 20 August 1964[85] |
| 82 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3 November 1964[85] |
| 83 |  Burkina Faso | 27 November 1964 |
| 84 |  Central African Republic | 27 November 1964[85] |
| 85 |  Guinea | 10 February 1965 |
| 86 |  Senegal | 3 March 1965[85] |
| 87 |  Niger | May 1965 |
| 88 |  Gambia | 14 August 1965[85] |
| 89 |  Togo | 22 October 1965 |
| 90 |  Benin | 25 March 1966 |
| 91 |  Madagascar | 25 March 1966 |
| 92 |  Burundi | 27 September 1966[85] |
| 93 |  Jamaica | 21 December 1966[85] |
| 94 |  Tanzania | 23 February 1967[85] |
| 95 |  Myanmar | 11 March 1967[96] |
| 96 |  Kenya | 27 April 1967 |
| 97 |  Malaysia | 12 May 1967 |
| 98 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 15 June 1967[85] |
| 99 |  Rwanda | 16 June 1967[85] |
| 100 |  Australia | 26 October 1967 |
| 101 |  Ghana | 10 November 1967 |
| 102 |  Cyprus | 22 December 1967[85] |
| 103 |  Singapore | 26 April 1968 |
| 104 |  Nepal | 14 May 1968 |
| 105 |  Somalia | 31 May 1968[85] |
| 106 |  Malta | 7 June 1968[97] |
| 107 |  Yemen | 24 September 1968[85] |
| 108 |  Equatorial Guinea | 12 October 1968[98] |
| 109 |  New Zealand | 28 March 1969 |
| 110 |  Uganda | 13 September 1969 |
| 111 |  Zambia | 26 September 1969[85] |
| 112 |  Bahrain | 15 November 1971[99] |
| 113 |  Bangladesh | 12 May 1972[85] |
| 114 |  Malawi | 27 October 1972[85] |
| 115 |  Oman | 10 November 1972 |
| 116 |  United Arab Emirates | 10 November 1972[100] |
| 117 |  Republic of the Congo | 7 December 1972 |
| 118 |  Qatar | 22 December 1972 |
| 119 |  China | 9 March 1973[101] |
| 120 |  Chad | 7 February 1975[85] |
| 121 |  Guinea Bissau | 3 March 1975[102] |
| 122 |  Lesotho | 3 May 1976[103] |
| 123 |  Suriname | 9 July 1976[85] |
| 124 |  Grenada | 2 September 1976[85] |
| 125 |  Bahamas | 1 December 1976 |
| 126 |  Fiji | 10 December 1976[104] |
| 127 |  Cambodia | 3 May 1977 |
| 128 |  Vietnam | 23 May 1977 |
| 129 |  Mozambique | 27 May 1977[85] |
| 130 |  Mongolia | 4 July 1977 |
| 131 |  Angola | 19 October 1977 |
| 132 |  Cape Verde | 21 December 1977 |
| 133 |  Papua New Guinea | 28 August 1978 |
| 134 |  Seychelles | 3 November 1978 |
| 135 |  Eswatini | 6 April 1979[85] |
| 136 |  Mauritius | 30 May 1979 |
| 137 |  Djibouti | 25 June 1979[105] |
| 138 |  Maldives | 24 August 1979 |
| 139 |  Tonga | 16 November 1979 |
| 140 |  Zimbabwe | 21 April 1980[106] |
| 141 |  Solomon Islands | 8 August 1980 |
| 142 |  Barbados | 29 September 1980[85] |
| 143 |  Dominica | 29 September 1980[85] |
| 144 |  Samoa | 5 November 1980[107] |
| 145 |  Botswana | 29 April 1981 |
| 146 |  Vanuatu | 30 April 1981 |
| 147 |  São Tomé and Príncipe | 26 February 1982[108] |
| 148 |  Comoros | 1 March 1983 |
| 149 |  Brunei | June 1984 |
| 150 |  Israel | 17 January 1986 |
| 151 |  Saint Lucia | 2 May 1986 |
| 152 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 21 July 1986[85] |
| 153 |  Guyana | 1 August 1986[85] |
| 154 |  Albania | 12 September 1986 |
| 155 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 19 March 1987 |
| 156 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 27 June 1988[85] |
| 157 |  Belize | 13 January 1989[85] |
| 158 |  Namibia | 21 March 1990[109] |
| 159 |  Estonia | 10 September 1991 |
| 160 |  Lithuania | 7 October 1991 |
| 161 |  Latvia | 9 October 1991[110] |
| 162 |  Marshall Islands | 17 December 1991[111] |
| 163 |  Liechtenstein | 9 January 1992[112] |
| 164 |  Armenia | 27 January 1992 |
| 165 |  Ukraine | 30 January 1992[113] |
| 166 |  Moldova | 31 January 1992 |
| 167 |  Azerbaijan | 11 February 1992 |
| 168 |  Kazakhstan | 11 February 1992 |
| 169 |  Belarus | 13 February 1992 |
| 170 |  Croatia | 9 March 1992 |
| 171 |  Uzbekistan | 18 March 1992 |
| 172 |  Turkmenistan | 19 March 1992 |
| 173 |  Slovenia | 25 March 1992[114] |
| 174 |  Kyrgyzstan | 3 April 1992[115] |
| 175 |  San Marino | 29 April 1992[116] |
| 176 |  Federated States of Micronesia | 11 May 1992 |
| 177 |  Georgia | 9 July 1992 |
| 178 |  Tajikistan | 4 August 1992[117] |
| 179 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14 December 1992[118] |
| 180 |  Slovakia | 1 January 1993 |
| 181 |  Andorra | 3 June 1993[119] |
| 182 |  Eritrea | 5 October 1993 |
| 183 |  North Macedonia | 28 July 1994 |
| 184 |  Tuvalu | 4 May 1995 |
| 185 |  Palau | 3 August 1995 |
| 186 |  Nauru | 27 September 1995 |
| — |  Cook Islands | 29 January 1998 |
| 187 |  North Korea | 7 February 2001 |
| 188 |  Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002 |
| 189 |  Montenegro | 11 December 2006 |
| 190 |  Bhutan | 11 February 2011[120] |
| 191 |  Kiribati | 24 September 2011[111] |
| 192 |  South Sudan | 7 October 2011[121] |
| — |  State of Palestine | 16 September 2024[122] |
| Country | Date formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 18 December 1962[85] | SeeAlgeria–Spain relations |
| Angola | 19 October 1977[39] | SeeAngola–Spain relations
|
| Burkina Faso | 27 November 1964[39] | SeeBurkina Faso–Spain relations |
| Cameroon | 10 November 1961[85] | SeeCameroon–Spain relations
|
| Chad | 7 February 1975[85] |
|
| Ivory Coast | 12 June 1964[85] | SeeIvory Coast–Spain relations
|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3 November 1964[85] | SeeDemocratic Republic of the Congo–Spain relations
|
| Egypt | 15 July 1950[85] | SeeEgypt–Spain relations
|
| Equatorial Guinea | 27 September 1968[85] | SeeEquatorial Guinea–Spain relations
|
| Ethiopia | April 1951[39] | SeeEthiopia–Spain relations
|
| Gambia | 14 August 1965[85] |
|
| Gabon | 25 February 1964[85] | SeeGabon–Spain relations
|
| Ghana | 10 November 1967[39] | SeeGhana–Spain relations
|
| Guinea | 10 February 1965[39] | SeeGuinea–Spain relations
|
| Guinea-Bissau | 1974[39] | SeeGuinea-Bissau–Spain relations
|
| Kenya | 27 April 1967[39] | SeeKenya–Spain relations
|
| Liberia | 5 May 1950[85] | SeeLiberia–Spain relations |
| Libya | 14 January 1961[39] | SeeLibya–Spain relations
|
| Madagascar | 25 March 1966[39] |
|
| Mali | 20 August 1964[85] | SeeMali–Spain relations
|
| Mauritania | 15 April 1961[85] | SeeMauritania–Spain relations
|
| Morocco | 26 June 1956[85] | SeeMorocco–Spain relations Spain has several interests in Morocco. This is dictated by geographic proximity and long historical contacts, as well as by the two Spanish enclave cities ofCeuta andMelilla on the northern coast of Africa. While Spain's departure from its former colony ofWestern Sahara ended direct Spanish participation in Morocco, it maintains an interest in the peaceful resolution of the conflict brought about there bydecolonization. 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 Spanish island. |
| Mozambique | 27 May 1977[85] | SeeMozambique–Spain relations
|
| Namibia | 2 March 1990[85] | SeeNamibia–Spain relations
|
| Niger | May 1965[39] | SeeNiger–Spain relations
|
| Nigeria | 10 February 1961[85] | SeeNigeria–Spain relations |
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | No diplomatic relations | SeeSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic–Spain relations |
| Senegal | 3 March 1965[85] | SeeSenegal–Spain relations
|
| South Africa | 18 May 1951[85] | SeeSouth Africa–Spain relations |
| Sudan | 20 February 1964[39] | SeeSpain–Sudan relations
|
| Tanzania | 23 February 1967[85] |
|
| Tunisia | 8 July 1957[85] | SeeSpain–Tunisia relations
|
| Zambia | 26 September 1969[85] |
|
| Zimbabwe | 21 April 1981[85] |
|
| Country | Date formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 27 June 1988[85] |
|
| Argentina | 21 September 1863[39] | SeeArgentina–Spain relations
|
| Bahamas | 1 December 1976[39] | SeeBahamas–Spain relations |
| Barbados | 29 September 1980[85] |
|
| Belize | 13 January 1989[85] | SeeBelize–Spain relations
|
| Bolivia | 21 July 1847[39] | SeeBolivia–Spain relations A diplomatic crisis withBolivia in 2005 due to a misunderstanding was quickly resolved by Zapatero and Spain became the first European country visited byEvo Morales on January 4, 2006. However, there remain problems surrounding the exploitation of oil and gas fields in the country by Spanish corporations likeRepsol. Bolivian PresidentEvo Morales met King Juan Carlos and held talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero during a visit to Spain in September 2009 with the intention of resolving issues concerning thenationalisation of the Bolivian energy sector. The move has the potential to hurt some Spanish companies however relations were said to be "positive" between the Bolivian state and Spanish private sector energy companies. Evo Morales said that Bolivia is ready to accept outside investment in its energy and natural resource industries as long as foreign firms do not act as owners and that Bolivia is "looking for investment, be it from private or state sector. We want partners, not owners of our natural resources." It was suggested that Bolivia would also negotiate with Spanish companies to produce car parts and lithium batteries in the future.[130] |
| Brazil | SeeBrazil–Spain relations
| |
| Canada | 21 February 1953[135] | SeeCanada–Spain relations |
| Chile | 12 June 1883[140] | SeeChile–Spain relations
Both nations are members of theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
|
| Colombia | 30 January 1881[68] | SeeColombia–Spain relations
|
| Costa Rica | 10 May 1850[57] | SeeCosta Rica–Spain relations
|
| Cuba | 1902[39] | SeeCuba–Spain relations
|
| Dominican Republic | 18 February 1855[59] | SeeDominican Republic–Spain relations
|
| Ecuador | 16 February 1840[53] | SeeEcuador–Spain relations
|
| El Salvador | 24 June 1865[63] | SeeEl Salvador–Spain relations
|
| Guatemala | 18 June 1864[62] | SeeGuatemala–Spain relations
|
| Haiti | 6 November 1949[85] | SeeHaiti–Spain relations
|
| Honduras | 11 June 1896[39] | SeeHonduras–Spain relations
|
| Jamaica | 21 December 1966[85] | SeeJamaica–Spain relations
|
| Mexico | 28 December 1836[52] | SeeMexico–Spain relations
|
| Nicaragua | 21 March 1851[58] | SeeNicaragua–Spain relations |
| Panama | 10 May 1904[72] | SeePanama–Spain relations
|
| Paraguay | 10 September 1880[39] | SeeParaguay–Spain relations
|
| Peru | 15 November 1879[67] | SeePeru–Spain relations
|
| Trinidad and Tobago | 15 June 1967[85] | SeeSpain–Trinidad and Tobago relations
|
| United States | 20 February 1783[47] | SeeSpain–United States relations Under the government of José María Aznar, Spain developed exceptionally good relations with the US, in great part due to the personal empathy between Aznar and George W. Bush. Following Zapatero's decision to withdraw Spanish troops fromIraq immediately after the 2004 general elections, relations predictably soured, although important commercial links remained intact. When elected,President Barack Obama expressed his wish to enhance cooperation between both countries, especially in policies like theGreen Energy plan from Zapatero,[175] introducing theAVE (the Spanish High Speed Train) in United States[176] and aiding US by receiving in Spanish prisonsGuantanamo Prison detainees[177]
|
| Uruguay | 9 October 1841[180] | SeeSpain–Uruguay relations
|
| Venezuela | 30 March 1845[56] | SeeSpain–Venezuela relations
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| Country | Date formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 28 October 1958[94] | SeeAfghanistan–Spain relations
|
| Armenia | 27 January 1992[39] | SeeArmenia–Spain relations
|
| Azerbaijan | 11 February 1992[39] | SeeAzerbaijan–Spain relations
|
| Bahrain | 15 November 1971[99] | |
| Bangladesh | 12 May 1972[85] | SeeBangladesh–Spain relations |
| Bhutan | 11 February 2011[120] | SeeBhutan–Spain relations |
| China | 9 March 1973[101] | SeeChina–Spain relations |
| East Timor | 20 May 2002[39] |
|
| Georgia | 9 July 1992[39] | SeeGeorgia–Spain relations
|
| India | 7 November 1956[85] | SeeIndia–Spain relations |
| Indonesia | February 1958[196] | SeeIndonesia–Spain relations
|
| Iran | 4 March 1842[54] | SeeIran–Spain relations
|
| Iraq | 5 August 1950[85] | SeeIraq–Spain relations
|
| Israel | 17 January 1986[39] | SeeIsrael–Spain relations
|
| Japan | 12 November 1868[64] | SeeJapan–Spain relations
|
| Jordan | 6 July 1950[85] | SeeJordan–Spain relations
|
| Kazakhstan | 11 February 1992[39] | SeeKazakhstan–Spain relations |
| Kuwait | 17 April 1964[85] | SeeKuwait–Spain relations
|
| Kyrgyzstan | 3 April 1992[115] |
|
| Lebanon | 15 April 1949[85] | SeeLebanon–Spain relations
|
| Malaysia | 12 May 1967[39] | SeeMalaysia–Spain relations
|
| Mongolia | 4 July 1977[39] |
|
| North Korea | 7 February 2001[39] | SeeNorth Korea–Spain relations
|
| Pakistan | 17 September 1951[85] | SeePakistan–Spain relations Pakistan and Spain enjoy extremely cordial and friendly ties.[204] Relations were established in the late 1950s. Pakistanis form the largest Asian immigrant community in Spain. |
| Philippines | 27 September 1947[87] | SeePhilippines–Spain relations Philippine PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo concluded her second state visit in Spain in July 2006, bringing back millions of dollars of Spanish investments, particularly in Tourism and Information Technology. The Spanish king,Juan Carlos I, also reiterated in Mrs. Arroyo's visit, his support for her project in the Philippines to re-establish Spanish as an official language in the country. He and his wife, Queen Sofia attended the 1998 centennial celebrations in Manila, commemorating 100 years of independence from Spain. The mediation of King Juan Carlos I is said to have produced the pardon and liberation of two Filipina domestic workers sentenced to death in Kuwait and the UAE. |
| Qatar | 22 December 1972[39] | SeeQatar–Spain relations
|
| Saudi Arabia | 17 July 1952[85] | SeeSaudi Arabia–Spain relations |
| South Korea | 24 March 1950[85] | SeeSouth Korea–Spain relations The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Spain began on 7 March 1950.[207]
|
 Taiwan | No diplomatic relations | SeeSpain–Taiwan relations
|
| Tajikistan | 4 August 1992[117] |
|
| Thailand | 23 February 1870[65] | SeeSpain–Thailand relations
|
| Turkey | 27 September 1924[39] | SeeSpain–Turkey relations
|
| United Arab Emirates | 10 November 1972[100] | SeeSpain–United Arab Emirates relations
|
| Uzbekistan | 18 March 1992[39] | SeeSpain–Uzbekistan relations
|
| Vietnam | 23 May 1977[39] | SeeSpain–Vietnam relations
|
| Yemen | 24 September 1968[85] | SeeSpain–Yemen relations |
| Country | Date formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | 12 September 1986[39] | SeeAlbania–Spain relations |
| Andorra | 3 June 1993[119] | SeeAndorra–Spain relations
|
| Austria | 28 March 1956[85] | SeeAustria–Spain relations
|
| Belarus | 13 February 1992[39] | SeeBelarus–Spain relations
|
| Belgium | 21 January 1921[80] | SeeBelgium–Spain relations
|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14 December 1992[118] | SeeBosnia and Herzegovina–Spain relations |
| Bulgaria | 5 August 1910[74] | See alsoBulgaria–Spain relations
|
| Croatia | 9 March 1992[39] | SeeCroatia–Spain relations
|
| Cyprus | 22 December 1967[85] | SeeCyprus–Spain relations
|
| Czech Republic | 19 June 1919[78] | SeeCzech Republic–Spain relations
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| Denmark | 1 April 1516[43] | SeeDenmark–Spain relations
|
| Estonia | 10 September 1991[39] | SeeEstonia–Spain relations
|
| Finland | 16 August 1918[77] | SeeFinland–Spain relations
|
| France | 1486[41] | SeeFrance–Spain relations
|
| Germany | 6 November 1952[85] | SeeGermany–Spain relations
|
| Greece | 6 December 1835[51] | SeeGreece–Spain relations Both countries maintain enhanced cooperation on the serious problem of illegal migration, which they have in common. The need for effective confrontation of the illegal migration pressures on both states in the Mediterranean basin have led to close cooperation both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union.
|
| Holy See | 1400s[230] | SeeHoly See–Spain relations
|
| Hungary | December 1944[86] | SeeHungary–Spain relations
|
| Iceland | 20 September 1949[90] | SeeIceland–Spain relations |
| Ireland | September 1935[83] | SeeIreland–Spain relations
|
| Italy | SeeItaly–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations after the unification of Italy. Relations between Italy and Spain have remained strong and affable for centuries owing to various political, cultural, and historical connections between the two nations. In theEarly modern period,southern andinsular Italy came under Spanish control, having been previously a domain of theCrown of Aragon. This extended period of foreign domination left marked influences in the modernsouthern Italian dialects. During theSpanish Civil War, theCorps of Volunteer Troops, a fascist expeditionary force from Italy, supported the Nationalist forces led byFrancisco Franco. It's estimated that around 75,000 Italians fought in the war.
| |
| Latvia | 9 October 1991[110] | SeeLatvia–Spain relations
|
| Lithuania | 7 October 1991[39] | SeeLithuania–Spain relations
|
| Luxembourg | 9 February 1891[70] | SeeLuxembourg–Spain relations
|
| Malta | 7 June 1968[97] | SeeMalta–Spain relations
|
| Moldova | 31 January 1992[39] | SeeMoldova–Spain relations
|
| Monaco | 2 June 1876[66] | SeeMonaco–Spain relations
|
| Montenegro | 11 December 2006[39] | SeeMontenegro–Spain relations
|
| Netherlands | SeeNetherlands–Spain relations
| |
| North Macedonia | 28 July 1994[39] | SeeNorth Macedonia–Spain relations |
| Norway | 26 November 1905[73] | SeeNorway–Spain relations |
| Poland | 17 September 1919[79] | SeePoland–Spain relations
|
| Portugal | 5 October 1143[40] | SeePortugal–Spain relations Portugal's copy of theTreaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between Portugal and Castile. During the 15th century, Portugal built increasingly large fleets of ships and began to explore the world beyond Europe, sending explorers to Africa and Asia. Castile followed suit decades later. Following the first Spanish voyage ofChristopher Columbus to the Caribbean in 1492, both states began acquiring territory in the New World. As a result of the 1494Treaty of Tordesillas, Portugal acquired its most potentially important colony,Brazil (much of theSouth American continent), as well as a number of possessions in Africa and Asia, while Castile took the rest of South America and much of the North American continent as well as a number of possessions in Africa, Oceanía and Asia as the important colony of thePhilippines. This line of demarcation was about halfway between the Cape Verde Islands (already Portuguese) and the islands claimed for Castile by Columbus on his first voyage. Although the Treaty of Tordesillas attempted to clarify their empires, many subsequent treaties were needed to establish the modern boundaries of Brazil and the 1529Treaty of Zaragoza was needed to demarcate their Asian possessions. Henry of Portugal, reigned until his death (31 January 1580). He lacked heirs and his death triggered asuccession crisis, where the main claimants to the throne werePhilip II of Spain andAnthony, Prior of Crato. After the Spanish victory in theWar of Portuguese Succession Philip of Spain was crowned king of Portugal in 1581, beginning a personal union between the two nations known as theIberian Union generating a decline of the Portuguese Empire during the period of Union. The Iberian Union lasted for almost sixty years until 1640, when thePortuguese Restoration War was initiated against Spain and Portugal reestablished the Portuguese dynasty under theBragança. Relations between Portugal and Spain are also good. They cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking and tackling forest fires (common in theIberian Peninsula in summers), for example. These close relations are facilitated by similar governments: the government of conservative Spanish PMJosé María Aznar coincided with the government of also conservativeJosé Manuel Durão Barroso in Portugal; today, bothJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain andJosé Sócrates of Portugal aresocialists. Portugal also holds claim to the disputed territory ofOlivença in the Portuguese-Spanish border.
|
| Romania | 5 July 1881[69] | SeeRomania–Spain relations
|
| Russia | 20 July 1812[48] | SeeRussia–Spain relations Spain and theGrand Duchy of Moscow first exchangedenvoys in the 1520s; regular embassies were established in 1722.Soviet-Spanish relations, once terminated after theSpanish Civil War, were gradually reestablished since 1963 and fully established in 1977. Trade between two countries amounts to two billionEuros (2008); in March 2009 two countries signed an energy agreement providing national energy companies access to other party's domestic markets.
|
| Serbia | 14 October 1916[75][76] | SeeSerbia–Spain relations
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| Slovakia | 1 January 1993[39] | SeeSlovakia–Spain relations
|
| Slovenia | 25 March 1992[114] | SeeSlovenia–Spain relations
|
| Sweden | 1651[46] | SeeSpain–Sweden relations
|
| Switzerland | 14 February 1939[85] | SeeSpain–Switzerland relations
|
| Ukraine | 30 January 1992[113] | SeeSpain–Ukraine relations
|
| United Kingdom | 1505 | SeeSpain–United Kingdom relations Spain establisheddiplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in 1505.[42][failed verification]
Both countries share common membership of theCouncil of Europe, theEuropean Court of Human Rights, theInternational Criminal Court,NATO, theOECD, theOSCE, and theWorld Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention.[255] |
| Country | Date formal relations began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 26 October 1967[39] | SeeAustralia–Spain relations |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 11 May 1992[39] | The FS of Micronesia were once part of theSpanish East Indies.
|
| Fiji | 10 December 1976[104] |
|
| Kiribati | 24 September 2011[111] | |
| Marshall Islands | 17 December 1991[111] | SeeMarshall Islands–Spain relations The Marshall Islands were once part of the Spanish East Indies.
|
| New Zealand | 28 March 1969[39] | SeeNew Zealand–Spain relations
|
| Palau | 3 August 1995[39] | SeePalau–Spain relations Palau was once part of the Spanish East Indies.
|
| Papua New Guinea | 28 August 1978[39] |
|
| Samoa | 5 November 1980[107] |
|
| Solomon Islands | 8 August 1980[39] | SeeSolomon Islands–Spain relations |
| Tonga | 16 November 1979[39] |
|
Spain's peculiar but seemingly secure position within the G20 also appears to have facilitated their greater participation in the G20's work: Spain is the only outreach participant to have made policy commitments comparable to those of G20 members proper at summits since Seoul. Spain therefore appears to have become a de facto member of the G20.
On 1 January 1986, Spain and Portugal acceded to the European Economic Community, which thus became the 'Europe of the Twelve'.
