Foreign relations Spain

mariano rajoy in g-20 summit in mexico. spain permanent guest of g-20.



the ibero-american summit, in san salvador, 2008



palau reial de pedralbes, in barcelona, headquarters of union mediterranean.

after return of democracy following death of franco in 1975, spain s foreign policy priorities break out of diplomatic isolation of franco years , expand diplomatic relations, enter european community, , define security relations west.

as member of nato since 1982, spain has established participant in multilateral international security activities. spain s eu membership represents important part of foreign policy. on many international issues beyond western europe, spain prefers co-ordinate efforts eu partners through european political co-operation mechanisms.

spain has maintained special relations hispanic america , philippines. policy emphasises concept of ibero-american community, renewal of historically liberal concept of hispanidad or hispanismo , referred in english, has sought link iberian peninsula hispanic america through language, commerce, history , culture.

territorial disputes

spain claims gibraltar, 6-square-kilometre (2.3 sq mi) overseas territory of united kingdom in southernmost part of iberian peninsula. spanish town, conquered anglo-dutch force in 1704 during war of spanish succession on behalf of archduke charles, pretender spanish throne.

sahrawi arab democratic republic army. according united nations, spain administrative power of western sahara de iure.

the legal situation concerning gibraltar settled in 1713 treaty of utrecht, in spain ceded territory in perpetuity british crown stating that, should british abandon post, offered spain first. since 1940s spain has called return of gibraltar. overwhelming majority of gibraltarians oppose this, along proposal of shared sovereignty. un resolutions call on united kingdom , spain, both eu members, reach agreement on status of gibraltar.

the spanish claim makes distinction between isthmus connects rock spanish mainland on 1 hand, , rock , city of gibraltar on other. while rock , city ceded treaty of utrecht, spain asserts occupation of isthmus illegal , against principles of international law . united kingdom relies on de facto arguments of possession prescription in relation isthmus, there has been continuous possession [of isthmus] on long period .

another claim spain savage islands, claim not recognised portugal . spain claims rocks rather islands, therefore claiming there no portuguese territorial waters around disputed islands. on 5 july 2013, spain sent letter un expressing these views.

spain claims sovereignty on perejil island, small, uninhabited rocky islet located in south shore of strait of gibraltar. island lies 250 metres (820 ft) off coast of morocco, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) ceuta , 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) mainland spain. sovereignty disputed between spain , morocco. subject of armed incident between 2 countries in 2002. incident ended when both countries agreed return status quo ante existed prior moroccan occupation of island. islet deserted , without sign of sovereignty.

besides perejil island, spanish-held territories claimed other countries two: morocco claims spanish cities of ceuta , melilla , plazas de soberanía islets off northern coast of africa; , portugal , other signatories of treaty of vienna(1815) , successor states not recognise spain s sovereignty on territory of olivenza in alentejo region of portugal annexed spain in 1801. portugal stance has been territory being de iure portuguese territory , de facto spanish.