 | |
 Canada |  Spain |
|---|---|
The relationship between Canada and Spain dates back to colonial times. Today, both nations are members of NATO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.
| | |
Canada | Spain |
|---|---|
The relationship between Canada and Spain dates back to colonial times. Today, both nations are members of NATO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.
In July 1774, Spanish naval officer Juan José Pérez Hernández was the first European to encounter the archipelago of Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands) while on his way to Alaska. [1] After the initial voyage, several other Spanish voyages were to take place along the British Columbia Coast. In 1789, Spain created two settlements in Santa Cruz de Nuca and Fort San Miguel, both located in Nootka Sound. At the maximum extent of the Spanish Empire in the Americas, Spain controlled territories from the end of the Southern Cone to current Alberta and Saskatchewan. [2] In July 1935, Canada and Spain established diplomatic relations. [3]
From 1936 to 1939, Spain was embroiled in a civil war between the Republican faction and Nationalist faction. Although Canada was officially neutral during the conflict, over 1,700 Canadians volunteered and fought for the Republican faction in Spain. [4] [5] At first, the Canadian volunteers joined the primarily American Lincoln Battalion (also known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade), and the George Washington Battalion, before creating a primarily Canadian brigade known as the Mackenzie–Papineau Battalion (Mac-Paps). [5] During that time, the Canadian Parliament passed the "Foreign Enlistment Act in 1937" outlawing participation by Canadians in foreign wars. [5] During the civil war, approximately 700 Canadians lost their lives fighting. [5] In 1938, the Republican Faction was taking heaving loses and realized that they were losing the war. Several Canadian fighters left Spain and returned to Canada before General Francisco Franco entered Madrid and ended the war in April 1939. [5]
Since the end of World War II, Canada and Spain enjoy friendly and close diplomatic relations. In December 1959, both nations eliminated visa requirements for their citizens. [3] In March 1995, relations between both nations reached an all-time low when a Spanish fishing boat called the "Estai" with a crew of 45 was seized just outside of Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone because the Canadian government accused Spain of overfishing turbots near its waters, triggering the Turbot War (guerra del fletán in Spanish). [6] [7] During the crisis, Spain imposed visas on Canadian citizens visiting Spain and threatened to break diplomatic relations with Canada. [8] Spain began sending Serviola-class patrol boat to protect their trawlers when Canada began to cut the nets of Spanish trawlers fishing in the area. [9] Support from the EU was split during the crisis, with the United Kingdom and Ireland supporting Canada while continental Europe and Iceland supported Spain. During negotiations between Canada and the European Union to resolve the issue, the crew of Estai posted a $500,000 bail and returned to Spain. The crisis was resolved when Canada and the European Union agreed to a deal on April 5. Under this agreement Spain was forced to leave the disputed zone and Canada's right to eject foreign fishing vessels from the area using military force was accepted. Under the deal Canada's own Greenland turbot quota was reduced, and they refunded the $500,000 fine to the owners of the Estai. [9] Since the crisis, Canadian-Spanish relations improved and in 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation was signed between both nations. [10]
Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lawrence MacAulay, highlighted an increase in trade relations due to CETA's bilateral project with the EU and assured that both countries "have always been good friends." [11] Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland classified the bilateral relations between Canada and Spain as excellent and based on common values, with Canada being one of Spain's strongest allies. Likewise, both countries have supported each other in internal problems. [12] [13] On 12 October 2022, Canada illuminated Niagara Falls with the Spanish flag in commemoration of the National Day of Spain. [14]
During the 2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis caused by the Catalan declaration of independence, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly announced, during a speech in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, that he opposed to the Catalan secessionism and expressed his support for a united Spain. [15] [16] On the other hand, in Quebec, the leader of the pro-independence party Bloc Québécois, Martine Ouellet, urged for Canada to recognize Catalonia. Jean-François Lisée, the head of the Parti Québécois, confirmed that his party also supported the Catalan independence. [16] [17] However, the Liberal Premier of Quebec, Phillippe Couillard, stated an Official Policy of neutrality. Most other members of the Conservative Party of Canada also kept neutral. [16] CBC News and The Walrus reported that many Quebec separatists had enthusiastically responded to the Catalan declaration of independence. [18] [19] Global News reported that pro-Catalan independence rallies had been organized in Quebec. [20]
In 2019, the escaped and self-declared president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, was banned from entering Canada after he attempted to attend a Meeting at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society. The move was criticized by Jagmeet Singh and Véronique Hivon. [21] In the same year, Puigdemont threatened to sue Canada for banning him. [22] [23]
Prime Ministerial visits from Canada to Spain [24]
Prime Ministerial and Royal visits from Spain to Canada [25] [26] [27] [3]
In 2018, trade between Canada and Spain totaled €3.4 billion Euros. [3] Canada's exports to Spain include: aircraft and parts, ores and ash, cereals, machinery equipment and energy related products. Spain's exports to Canada include: pharmaceutical products, combustibles, oil and minerals, beverages and electronic equipment. [3] [28] Canadian multinational companies such as Bombardier Inc., BlackBerry and Thomson Reuters operate in Spain, whereas Spanish multinational company Zara operates in Canada. In 2014, Canada and the European Union (which includes Spain) concluded an agreement on a free trade agreement known as the "Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)". [29]
The foreign relations of Spain could be constructed upon the foreign relations of the Hispanic Crown. The personal union of Castile and Aragon that ensued with the joint rule of the Catholic Monarchs was followed by the annexation of the Kingdom of Granada and the Kingdom of Navarre. The crown also built a large colonial empire in the Americas after the arrival of Columbus to the New World in 1492.
The Turbot War was an international fishing dispute and bloodless conflict between Canada and Spain and their respective supporters.
The history of Canada (1982–present) refers to the period immediately following the Canada Act until the present.
The nations of Canada and Mexico established formal diplomatic relations in 1944. Initially, ties between the two nations were dormant, but since the 1990s relations between Canada and Mexico have positively developed as both countries brokered NAFTA.
Canada and Israel share bilateral diplomatic, commercial, and cultural ties. Canada recognised Israel on 11 May 1949, three days before the first anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and currently maintains an embassy in Tel Aviv; Israel maintains an embassy in Ottawa, at 50 O'Connor Street, and regional consulates in Montreal and Toronto.
Bilateral relations between the Argentine Republic and Canada have existed for over a century. Both nations are members of the Cairns Group, G20, Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Canada and Chile established diplomatic relations in 1892. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group, Organization of American States, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Canada and Peru established diplomatic relations in 1944. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Cairns Group, Lima Group, Organization of American States and the United Nations.
Canada and Italy. Both nations enjoy friendly relations and are close allies and partners through their membership in the G7, G20, NATO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Relations also centre on the history of Italian migration to Canada; approximately 1.5 million Canadians claim to have Italian ancestry.
Canada and Turkey have maintained diplomatic relations since 1943. Both countries are members of the G20, NATO, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
Israel and Spain have maintained diplomatic ties since 1986. Israel has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Tel Aviv, and an honorary consulate in Haifa. There is also a General Consulate in Jerusalem, which serves as a diplomatic mission to the city of Jerusalem, Gaza and the territories of the West Bank. In addition to both countries being member states of the United Nations, both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Canada and Latvia have long-standing foreign relations. During the 1920s, Canada helped Lithuania gain their independence with their victory in the war over the Baltics in Lithuania. Canada never recognized the Soviet Union's annexation of Latvia and re-recognized Latvia's independence on August 26, 1991.
Canada and Cuba have established diplomatic relations with one another since 1945, following their centuries-old informal trading relationship. Informal trade relations were established between the colonies of Atlantic Canada and the Captaincy General of Cuba during the 18th century. The informal trade relationship continued into the 20th century until formal diplomatic relations was finally established.
China–Spain relations have existed since the 16th century. Relations between Spain and the People's Republic of China were established in 1973.
Cuba–Spain relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Spain. Relations date back more than five centuries. Cuba had been a colony from 1492 until 1898 when the United States took over the territory in the Spanish–American War. Many Cubans have ancestry dating back from Spain. Many Spaniards escaped the first Spanish Civil War and went to Cuba, and other countries, around 1820–1825.
Diplomatic relations between Canada and Senegal began in 1962. Both nations are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
The Catalan declaration of independence was a resolution that was passed by the Parliament of Catalonia on 27 October 2017. While the text proclaims the independence of Catalonia from Spain and the establishment of an independent Catalan Republic, the declaration itself did not receive recognition from the international community and it produced no legal effect.
Honduras–Spain relations are the diplomatic relations between Honduras and Spain. Both nations are members of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language and the Organization of Ibero-American States.
Kurdistan Region–Spain relations are bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region and Spain. Kurdistan Region is represented in Spain through a representation in Madrid since 2010, while Spain has no representation in Kurdistan Region. When the Kurdish representation opened in Madrid, the representative Daban Shadala stated that their activities primarily focused on building confidence, trust and friendship between the two parties. These goals were accomplished according to Shadala and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Garcia-Margallo held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Emad Ahmad which resulted in the opening of a Spanish honorary consulate in Erbil.
Guinea–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Guinea has an embassy in Madrid and honorary consulate in Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Valencia. Spain has an embassy in Conakry.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
