Argentina–Spain relations
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{infobox bilateral relations|Argentine–Spanish|Argentina|Spain|map = Argentina Spain Locator.png}}
Argentina–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and the Kingdom of Spain. Since a great portion of the immigrants to Argentina before the mid-19th century were of Spanish descent, the large majority of Argentines are at least partly of Spanish ancestry. Also, a significant part of the late-19th century/early-20th century immigrants to Argentina were Spaniards. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
History
=Spanish colonization=
{{main|Colonial Argentina}}
File:Eva Duarte de Perón en España.jpg in Spain; 1947]]
In 1516, the first Spanish expedition to visit what is now Argentina was led by the explorer Juan Díaz de Solís. In 1536, the first Spanish settlement was created in the Río de la Plata basin. In 1776, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created with the head of government placed in Buenos Aires.
=Independence=
{{main|Argentine War of Independence}}
Spain recognised an independent Argentina in 1863, with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity, thus established diplomatic relations between the two nations.[http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Documents/FichasPais/ARGENTINA_FICHA%20PAIS.pdf Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Argentina (in Spanish)]
=Post independence=
Since obtaining independence from Spain, diplomatic relations between the two nations have been stable. During the Spanish Civil War, Argentina remained neutral and gave asylum to any Spanish citizen requesting it without regards to whether they were Republicans or Nationalists.[http://fci.uib.es/Servicios/libros/veracruz/Casas/La-guerra-civil-espanola-y-la-sociedad-argentina.cid213412 La guerra civil española y la sociedad Argentina (in Spanish)] At the end of the war, Argentina maintained diplomatic relations with the government of General Francisco Franco. Maintaining diplomatic relations allowed for the first lady of Argentina Eva Perón to visit Spain in 1947 and donate five million tons of food to the Spanish people.{{Cite web |url=http://www.laaventuradelahistoria.es/2013/05/30/16-dias-con-evita-peron-en-espana.html |title=16 días con Evita Perón en España (in Spanish) |access-date=17 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023104830/http://www.laaventuradelahistoria.es/2013/05/30/16-dias-con-evita-peron-en-espana.html |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}
After the death of General Franco in Spain in 1975, Argentina entered a period of military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Spain recognised and supported the claims of Argentine territorial rights over the islands. In 2012, British documents were made declassified and stated that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher feared that during the Falkland war, Spain would join Argentina by invading Gibraltar.[http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/12/27/actualidad/1356640338_980224.html El País: ¿Puede España atacar Gibraltar? (in Spanish)] However, as of December 31, 2020, Spain and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on the Gibraltar dispute with their Spanish environment.{{cite web|url = https://elpais.com/espana/2021-01-10/el-texto-del-acuerdo-entre-espana-y-reino-unido-preve-demoler-la-verja-de-gibraltar.html#|title = El texto del acuerdo entre España y el Reino Unido prevé demoler la verja de Gibraltar}}
A dispute arose in 2012, when Argentina sought to nationalize the energy company YPF, owned by the Spanish multinational company Repsol. Spain warned against such a move stating that it would harm bilateral relations if such a move were to happen.{{cite web |title=Spain Cautions Argentina on Takeover of Energy Firm (Published 2012) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727052626/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/global/spain-warns-argentina-about-ypf-takeover.html |archive-date=2023-07-27 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/global/spain-warns-argentina-about-ypf-takeover.html}} On 16 April, Argentina's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced the nationalization of YPF, to which Spain warned of a "clear and decisive" response.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/spain-pledges-decisive-action-against-argentina-over-ypf-seizure.html Spain Pledges Action Against Argentina Over YPF Seizure] The Argentine government agreed a $5 billion settlement with Repsol over YPF.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-repsol-argentina-idUSBREA1O1LJ20140225|title=Spain's Repsol agrees to $5 billion settlement with Argentina over YPF|website=reuters.com|date=25 February 2014|first= Tracy|last=Rucinski|first2=Andrés|last2=González|first3=Kevin|last3=Gray}}
File:Visita de SM el rey Felipe VI a la Argentina en ocasión de la jura de Javier Milei 5.jpg of Spain (left) and president Javier Milei of Argentina (right), during the Inauguration of Javier Milei.]]
In the 2010s an Argentine court accused Antonio González Pacheco, a former police inspector, of committing criminal acts during the Franco regime. He was sought for extradition by an Argentine judge in 2014.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/world/europe/spains-extradite-franco-era-police-inspector.html |title=No Extradition for Franco-Era Police Inspector |newspaper=The New York Times |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=13 November 2017 |first1=Patricia |last1=Rafael |first2=Jim |last2=Yardley |location=Madrid}} María Romilda Servini had called for the indictment.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/19/argentina-spain-franco-extraditions|title=Argentina calls for extradition of Francoists over human rights abuses |work=The Guardian|date=2013-09-19|access-date=2019-08-11}} The request for extradition was refused by the Spanish High Court on the basis that the statute of limitations had run out on the accusation against him.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-29868270 |title=Argentina asks Spain to arrest 20 Franco-era officials |publisher=BBC |date=1 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2017 |work=BBC News}}
In 2021, Spain pledged support to Argentina vis-à-vis the latter country's negotiations with the IMF to renegotiate on the mechanisms of their debt, singularly those relating to the payment of the US$45 billion borrowed by the Macri administration from the IMF.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/es/minuto-a-minuto/20210511-argentina-gana-respaldos-europeos-a-las-gestiones-por-su-deuda-ante-el-fmi|website=France24|title=Argentina gana respaldos europeos a las gestiones por su deuda ante el FMI|date=11 May 2021}} In June 2021, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paid a visit to Argentina and met with President Alberto Fernández.[https://elpais.com/espana/2021-06-09/pedro-sanchez-viaja-a-latinoamerica-en-plena-tormenta-por-los-indultos.html Sánchez da la bienvenida al gesto de Junqueras y pide “magnanimidad” para conceder los indultos (in Spanish)] In May 2022, Argentine President Alberto Fernández paid a visit to Spain.[https://www.clarin.com/politica/alberto-fernandez-madrid-interna-permanente-paso-bilaterales-peso_0_WPM5TTCD3D.html Alberto Fernández, en Madrid: El Presidente impulsa la idea de que la interna se defina en una PASO (in Spanish)]
Sánchez endorsed Kircherist candidate Sergio Massa during the 2023 Argentine presidential election, which were won by Javier Milei, who departed from the socialist policies of Argentine Peronists and Sanchez.{{cite web |url= https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/trasfondo-de-la-crisis-diplomatica-entre-pedro-sanchez-y-javier-milei-un-breve-pero-intenso-nid19052024/|title= El trasfondo de la pelea entre Pedro Sánchez y Javier Milei: el apoyo a Sergio Massa, las acusaciones de “sustancias” y otras frases que desataron la crisis diplomática|trans-title= The background of the fight between Pedro Sanchez and Javier Milei: support for Massa, claims of "substances" and other phrases that sparked the diplomatic crisis|language= Spanish|author= |date= May 20, 2024|publisher= La Nación|accessdate=May 21, 2024}} Relations between both presidents have been complicated since then. Spanish minister Óscar Puente said that Milei "consumes substances" in April 2024, and the next month Milei pointed out the corruption scandals that involve the wife of Sánchez, Begoña Gómez. Sánchez asked for formal apologies, which were denied; Argentine spokesman Manuel Adorni said it was Sánchez who should apologise to Milei instead. When asked if Sánchez would apologize to Milei, Spanish spokesman Patxi López refused to answer.{{cite web |url= https://www.clarin.com/politica/incomodo-momento-vocero-pedro-sanchez-preguntaron-espana-pide-perdon-milei_0_h9eNgcHpGo.html|title= El incómodo momento del vocero de Pedro Sánchez cuando le preguntaron por qué España no le pide perdón a Milei|trans-title= The uncomfortable moment of the spokesman of Pedro Sánchez when he was asked why Spain does not apologize to Milei|language= Spanish|author= |date= |publisher= |accessdate=May 21, 2024}} As a consequence of the conflict, Sánchez indefinitely removed Spain's ambassador in Argentina, María Jesús Alonso Jiménez.{{cite web |url= https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2024/05/21/espana-retira-embajadora-buenos-aires-argentina-orix/|title= España retira a su embajadora en Argentina de forma definitiva tras declaraciones de Milei|trans-title= Spain removes its ambassador in Argentina on a permanent way after the phrases of Milei|language= Spanish|author= Pau Mosquera|date= May 21, 2024|publisher= CNN Latinoamérica|accessdate=May 21, 2024}} On the other side, Milei said that he would not break relations between both countries merely because of personal conflicts between rulers.{{cite web |url= https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2024/05/21/no-pedir-disculpas-milei-pdro-sanchez-orix/|title= “No le voy a pedir disculpas”, dice Javier Milei sobre su confrontación con Pedro Sánchez|trans-title= "I will not apologise", says Javier Milei about his clash with Pedro Sánchez|language= Spanish|author= Mauricio Torres|date= May 21, 2024|publisher= CNN Latinoamérica|accessdate=May 21, 2024}}
Cultural cooperation
The Monument to the Carta Magna and Four Regions of Argentina was donated by the Spanish community in 1910, on the occasion of the centenary of the May Revolution.{{cite book| title = Monumentos y Esculturas de Buenos Aires, Palermo: espacios simbólicos y arte público) | author = María del Carmen Magaz | publisher = Dirección General Patrimonio e Instituto Histórico de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires | isbn = 978-987-1642-23-6 | year = 2013 }} Argentina hosts Spanish Cultural Centers in Buenos Aires, in Córdoba and in the Parque de España, Rosario.{{cite web|url=http://segib.org/la-segib-podra-usar-los-centros-culturales-de-espana-en-iberoamerica/|title=La SEGIB podrá usar los centros culturales de España en Iberoamérica|date=27 May 2015|website=Secretaría General Iberoamericana}} In addition, it also has mixed social and sports institutions, such as the Spanish Club of Rosario or the Hispano-Argentino Regatta Club,{{cite web|url= http://clubespanol.org.ar/pages/historia.htm|title= Club Español de Rosario - Historia de la Institución|accessdate= 27 March 2016|archive-date= 8 April 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160408174230/http://clubespanol.org.ar/pages/historia.htm|url-status= dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crha.org.ar/|title=CRHA}} and Spanish is the common language of both countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.fheargentina.com.ar/|title=Fundación para la Historia de España}}
Since May 2014, the Argentine cartoonist Quino, famous for his comic strip Mafalda, received the Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities.{{Cite web |url=http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2014/05/21/actualidad/1400665075_068733.html |title=Quino gana el Príncipe de Asturias de Comunicación y Humanidades |newspaper=El País |date=21 May 2014}} Later, since May 2017, the Argentine humorous-musical group Les Luthiers was also awarded.{{cite web|url=http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2017/05/10/actualidad/1494404784_930510.html |title=Les Luthiers, Premio Princesa de Asturias de Comunicación y Humanidades 2017|newspaper=El País|date=10 May 2017}}
Tango and flamenco are two Latin dance genres, recognized as intangible cultural heritage, being emblems of Argentine and Spanish culture respectively. Likewise, they have become popular among the societies of both countries with the exchange of music and dance artists.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20190216/46495976179/tango-y-flamenco-se-dan-un-fraternal-abrazo-en-el-colon-de-buenos-aires.html|title=Tango y flamenco se dan un "fraternal" abrazo en el Colón de Buenos Aires|newspaper=La Vanguardia|date=16 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://gacetinmadrid.com/2022/10/11/madrid-clausura-hispanidad-2022-con-animacion-en-la-calle-flamenco-tango-mariachis-bandas-de-musica/|title=Madrid clausura Hispanidad 2022 con animación en la calle, flamenco, tango, mariachis, el musical ‘Malinche’, bandas de música y fuegos artificiales al son de Albéniz y Falla (horarios y ubicaciones)|newspaper=Gacetín Madrid|date=11 October 2022}}
In February 2020, a twinning tourist guide was established that unites the city of Córdoba in Spain with the counterpart Córdoba in Argentina, trying to take advantage of the aspects that both cities share and that transcend beyond the common name that identifies them, covering linguistic points and cultural.{{cite web|url=https://www.hosteltur.com/lat/134443_una-guia-une-a-las-cordoba-de-espana-y-argentina.html|title=Una guía une a las Córdoba de España y Argentina|website=Hosteltur|date=10 February 2020}}
Since June 2022, the twinning of the paths of the Cura Brochero in Córdoba (Argentina) with that of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain) began. The agreement will have as its main objective to promote the exchange of knowledge on Christian pilgrimages between both communities.{{cite web|url=https://prensa.cba.gov.ar/informacion-general/se-inicio-el-hermanamiento-de-los-caminos-del-cura-brochero-y-santiago-de-compostela/|title=Se inició el hermanamiento de los caminos del Cura Brochero y Santiago de Compostela|website=Noticias: Gobierno de Córdoba|date=14 June 2022}}
In January 2023, Argentina sought at FITUR to capitalize its historic relationship with Spain for tourism, forged, among other things, by the family ties that unite both countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/turismo/fitur/noticia-argentina-busca-fitur-2023-capitalizar-turisticamente-historica-relacion-pais-espana-20230119160759.html|title=Argentina busca en Fitur 2023 capitalizar turísticamente la histórica relación del país con España|newspaper=Europa Press|date=19 January 2023}} Subsequently, the signing of a twinning and cooperation agreement between the municipalities of Salta (Argentina) and Huelva (Spain) was established. The agreement was made with the aim of promoting the economic and social development of both regions through tourism, production, culture, and gastronomy.{{cite web|url=https://www.salta.gob.ar/prensa/noticias/salta-firmo-un-convenio-de-hermanamiento-y-cooperacion-con-huelva-espania-87402|title=Salta firmó un convenio de hermanamiento y cooperación con Huelva, España|website=Gobierno de Salta|date=20 January 2023}} Likewise, in May of the same year, Salta was also twinned with the municipality of Huesca (Spain), since the gauchos pay homage to the same patron of the Fiestas de San Lorenzo.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/aragon/huesca/2023/05/04/san-lorenzo-hermana-a-huesca-y-argentina-en-salta-los-gauchos-le-rinden-homenaje-el-10-de-agosto-1649299.html|title=San Lorenzo hermana a Huesca y Argentina: "En Salta, los gauchos le rinden homenaje el 10 de agosto"|newspaper=Heraldo de Aragón|date=4 May 2023}}
Bilateral
Over the years, both nations have signed numerous bilateral agreements such as an Air Transportation Agreement (1947); Agreement on the Elimination of Visas (1947); Agreement on Migration (1960); Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (1971); Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1972); Agreement on Economic Cooperation (1974); Extradition Treaty (1987); Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (1991); Agreement on mutual recognition of Drivers License (2002); Agreement on the Avoidance of Double-Taxation (2013) and an Agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation in innovation and technological development (2022).{{cite web|url=https://www.cope.es/actualidad/noticias/espana-argentina-fortaleceran-cooperacion-innovacion-desarrollo-20220318_1978315|title=España y Argentina fortalecerán la cooperación en innovación y desarrollo|website=COPE|date=18 March 2022}}
Transportation
There are direct flights between Argentina and Spain through the following airlines: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Europa, Iberia and Level.
Trade and investment
In 2017, trade between Argentina and Spain totaled €2.7 billion Euros.[https://www.ceoe.es/es/contenido/actualidad/noticias/argentina-espana-relaciones-economicas-y-oportunidades-de-negocio Argentina-España: Relaciones Económicas y Oportunidades de Negocio (in Spanish)] Argentina's main exports to Spain include: animal based products, frozen fish, crustaceans and sea mussels, copper and organic chemicals. Spain's exports to Argentina include: automobile components and equipment, electrical material and pharmaceuticals. Spanish multinational companies such Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Banco Santander, Mapfre, Telefónica and Zara operate in Argentina.
Spain is the second largest investor in Argentina after the United States, totalling to more than €9.8 million Euros in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/argentina-espa%C3%B1a--previsi%C3%B3n-_s%C3%A1nchez-apelar%C3%A1-en-argentina-a-un-acuerdo-con-el-fmi-que-permita-estabilidad/46686582|website=swissinfo.ch|title=Sánchez apelará en Argentina a un acuerdo con el FMI que permita estabilidad|date=8 June 2021}}
Resident diplomatic relations
- Argentina has an embassy in Madrid and consulates-general in Barcelona and Vigo and consulates in Cádiz, Palma and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.[https://eespa.cancilleria.gob.ar Embassy of Argentina in Spain]
- Spain has an embassy in Buenos Aires and consulates-general in Bahía Blanca, Córdoba, Mendoza and Rosario.{{Cite web |url=http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/BUENOSAIRES/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx |title=Embassy of Spain in Argentina |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211204613/http://www.exteriores.gob.es/embajadas/buenosaires/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx |url-status=dead }}
File:Madrid - Embajada de Argentina (Palacete del Marqués de Argüeso, Calle de Fernando el Santo 15) 2.jpg|Embassy of Argentina in Madrid
File:Generali (formerly Vitalicio) building (passeig de Gràcia) 06.JPG|Consulate-General of Argentina in Barcelona
File:Consulado Argentino en Cádiz.jpg|Consulate of Argentina in Cádiz
File:Spanish Embassy, Buenos Aires 01.jpg|Embassy of Spain in Buenos Aires
File:Consulado Español en BA 01.jpg|Consulate-General of Spain in Buenos Aires
File:Consulado de España en Mendoza, Argentina.JPG|Consulate-General of Spain in Mendoza
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Documents/FichasPais/ARGENTINA_FICHA%20PAIS.pdf Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on bilateral relations with Argentina (in Spanish)]
{{Foreign relations of Argentina}}
{{Foreign relations of Spain}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Argentina|Spain}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Argentina-Spain relations}}