Australia | Spain |
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Diplomatic relations exist between Australia and Spain. In the 2016 Australian Census, 120,952 Australian residents claimed Spanish descent, while 15,391 indicated they were born in Spain. [1] Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The earliest writings on the discovery of mainland Australia by European explorers date back to the early 17th century. [2] However, Australian researcher Lawrence Hargrave argued that Spain had already established a colony in Botany Bay in the 16th century, a time when expeditions were organised to find Terra Australis . [3] Later, French historian Roger Hervé claimed that the Spanish caravel San Lesmes was diverted to New Zealand and Tasmania, until it went up the Australian eastern coast and was captured by the Portuguese near what is now Cape York. [4] In fact, a similar hypothesis was formulated by the Australian researcher Robert Adrian Langdon. [5] In 1606, the Spanish sailor Luís Vaz de Torres, belonging to the expedition of the Portuguese explorer Queirós, was one of the first European explorers to encounter Australia and the first to map the Torres Strait, which is named in his honour. [6] In 1793, the Malaspina Expedition sailed to Port Jackson (Sydney) on the coast of New South Wales, which had been established by the British in 1788. [7]
Since the initial encounter, relations between Australia and Spain would not develop until the 20th century. From 1936 to 1939, Spain was embroiled in a civil war between the Republican faction and Nationalist faction. Australia was officially neutral during the conflict. However, over 66 Australians volunteered and fought for the Republican faction in Spain as part of the British Battalion. [8]
On 26 October 1967, both countries established diplomatic relations, being named the first Chargé d'Affaires in Canberra on December 9 of the same year. Likewise, on 3 May 1968, the Spanish embassy in Canberra was inaugurated. On the other hand, in 2008, the twinning between the cities of Adelaide (Australia) and Ferrol (Spain) was established to report commercial, cultural, tourist and academic benefits. [9]
Over recent years, bilateral relations have experienced substantial advances in the political, economic, cultural, scientific fields, in the so-called ‘diplomacy between peoples’ and in parliamentary diplomacy. [10] The Australian diplomat, Timothy Kane, affirmed that the bilateral relationship ‘has strengthened in the last decade’, as evidenced by the fact that Spanish shipyards have built ‘115,000 tons of fleet for the Royal Australian Navy’, in addition to the fact that 80 Spanish companies operate there successfully and 40 Australian companies are established in Spain. Kane opted for ‘exploring new opportunities in the distribution, health, agri-food, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.’ Finally, he announced that ‘the most important Australian trade delegation in years’ will visit Spain in July and will be led by a minister from his Government. [11]
The director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North America, Asia and the Pacific, Fidel Sendagorta, stressed that both countries also share values, which will facilitate the work in the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2018-2020. On the other hand, the foreign representative stated that Spain ‘is going to support Australia in its negotiation with the EU to sign a Free Trade Agreement’. Finally, he announced the extension of the Working Holidays agreement, which currently benefits 1,500 young people from both countries. [11] In addition, according to the Instituto Cervantes in Sydney, Spanish is becoming a popular language to study among Australians. [12]
In 2018, both countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations to expand and mutually reinforce them in all fields, coinciding with Australia Day. [11] In addition, both countries tend to develop increasingly cordial and strategic relations. [13] [14] [15] [16] Australia and Spain share shared democratic values, and trade and investment ties are strong. Spanish companies are bringing significant experience and knowledge to the transport, infrastructure and renewable energy generation sectors in Australia. These companies have established a strong and growing presence, including by establishing bases in Australia for their operations in the Indo-Pacific region. [13] Australian companies are increasingly interested in Spain and have a growing number of investments in the country, especially in the field of financial services, software development and mining. Defence and military material are a key element of the bilateral relationship. Spanish companies have won important contracts for the construction of defence material, and cooperation between the Royal Australian Navy and the Spanish Navy is especially close. [13]
In 2023, the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) selected Destinus to invest in its aviation project, known as the Plan Tecnológico Aeronáutico (PTA), which will develop green hydrogen hypersonic engines to shorten the distance of travel between Australia and Europe. [17] Likewise, the Spanish company Talgo is studying taking its trains to Australia to communicate and reduce journey times between the cities of Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. [18] In May of the same year, both countries commemorated their 55 years of diplomatic relations. [19]
On 26 October 1967, Australia and Spain officially established diplomatic relations. In May 1968, Spain opened an embassy in the Australian capital of Canberra. [20] In June 1988, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía paid an official visit to Australia. [21]
Throughout the years, both nations have signed numerous bilateral agreements such as an Extradition Treaty (1987); Agreement on Cultural, Education and Scientific cooperation (1991); Agreement on the Avoidance of Double-Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion (1992); Agreement on Social Security (2002); Agreement on Air services (2009) and a Working holiday visa agreement (2014). [20]
On 28 June 2022, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese met with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez in La Moncloa (in the first formal visit of an Australian prime minister to Spain), agreeing on the sending of a Spanish high-level trade delegation to Australia, and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to a rapid conclusion of a ‘comprehensive and ambitious’ Trade Agreement between Australia and the European Union. [22]
High-level visits from Australia to Spain [23]
High-level visits from Spain to Australia [24]
In 2017, trade between Australia and Spain totalled US$3.4 billion. [1] Australian merchandise exports to Spain were valued at $697 million, and included coal, other ores and concentrates, fruit and nuts, and electronic integrated circuits. Spanish merchandise exports to Australia were valued at $2 billion, with the biggest import items being passenger motor vehicles, medicaments (including veterinary), fixed vegetable oils and fats, and rubber tyres, treads and tubes. [1] In 2016, Australian investments in Spain totalled US$5.1 billion and at the same time, Spanish investments in Australia totalled US$948 million. [1]
This article describes the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Ecuador
Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security and increasingly, regional development and economic integration.
Honduras is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), the Central American Integration System (SICA), and the Central American Security Commission (CASQ). During 1995-96, Honduras, a founding member of the United Nations, for the first time served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Honduras is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military.
Paraguayan foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its neighbors, and it has been an active proponent of regional co-operation. It is a member of the United Nations and has served one term in the UN Security Council in 1967-1969. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It also belongs to the Organization of American States, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, MERCOSUR and UNASUR.
This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Uruguay. At the political level, these matters are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, also known as Cancillería, which answers to the President.
Australia–Mexico relations are the bilateral relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, G20, MIKTA, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Trade Organization.
Australia and Chile enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Chilean immigration to Australia. In 2016, over 26,000 Chilean-born people lived in Australia. Chile is geographically the closest country in the Americas to Australia, and both administer several islands in the South Pacific. The two nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group and the OECD.
Ties between Mexico and Spain date back to the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1519 and subsequent Spanish colonialism in the country which lasted until the end of the Mexican War of Independence in 1821. Formal diplomatic relations between both nations commenced in 1836 and were severed with the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in 1939. Diplomatic relations were re-established in 1977 and have continued unabated since.
Finland–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between Finland and Spain. Both nations are members of the Council of Europe, the European Union, the United Nations, the Schengen Area, the eurozone, and NATO. Spain strongly supported Finland's NATO membership during the latter's accession process. Spain is also one of the favorite destinations of Finnish tourism. Approximately ten percent of the Finnish population travels on vacation each year to Spain. Furthermore, the Finns are the fastest growing European community in Málaga, as Fuengirola is home to the second largest colony of Finns in the world, after Sweden.
Andorra and Spain are members of the Council of Europe, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Philippines–Spain relations are the relations between the Philippines and Spain. The relations between the two nations span from the 16th century, the Philippines was the lone colony of the Spanish Empire in Asia for more than three centuries. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language and the United Nations.
Cuba–Uruguay relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Group of 77, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Malaysia–Spain relations are the bilateral foreign relations between Malaysia and Spain. Malaysia has an embassy in Madrid, and Spain has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
New Zealand–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between New Zealand and Spain. Both nations are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.
Peru and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1879. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, Organization of Ibero-American States, and the United Nations.
Guatemala–Spain relations are the current and historical relations between Guatemala and Spain. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.
Italy–Venezuela relations are the diplomatic relations between Italy and Venezuela. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Italian migration to Venezuela. There are approximately over 140,000 Italians living in Venezuela with more than a million Venezuelans of full or partial Italian descent.
Spain–Sweden relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Sweden has an embassy in Madrid, a consulate general in Barcelona and honorary consulates in Bilbao, Cartagena, Gijón, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, La Coruña, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, Torrevieja, and Valencia. Spain has an embassy in Stockholm, as well as an Economic and Social Department and another Tourism Department in the same city, and two honorary consulates in Malmö, Helsingborg and Gothenburg. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe, NATO, and of the European Union. Spain strongly supported Sweden's NATO membership during the latter's accession process.
Current and historical relations exist between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of El Salvador. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the arrival of Salvadoran refugees to Australia during the Salvadoran Civil War. There is a community of approximately 20,000 people of Salvadoran origin in Australia. Australia is home to the third largest Salvadoran community living abroad. Both nations are members of the Forum of East Asia–Latin America Cooperation and the United Nations.
Australia–Peru relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of Peru. Both nations are members of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group, World Bank, World Trade Organization and the United Nations.
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