Spain in the world: analysis by the Elcano Royal Institute

Australian leaders discuss about the role of Spain in Europe and on the global stage | View the Program Summary in PDF

The Elcano Royal Institute is a think tank dedicated to the strategic analysis of international affairs from a Spanish, European, and global perspective. Founded in 2001, its mission is to generate rigorous and useful knowledge to enrich public debate on Spain’s role in the world. To this end, it produces reports and studies addressing issues such as geopolitics, economics, security, climate change, and technology, and collaborates with academic institutions, multilateral organizations, and national and international experts.

The Australian Leaders visited the institution with the aim of conducting a broad and reflective analysis of Spain’s political, institutional, and diplomatic situation within the international context. They were received by the Director of the Elcano Royal Institute, Charles Powell; Senior Researchers Félix Arteaga and Lara Lázaro; and Cristina de Esperanza Picardo, Research Assistant for the Indo-Pacific region.

During the presentation, Charles Powell explained the objectives of the Elcano Royal Institute, “the oldest and probably the largest think tank in Spain.”

Among the various topics discussed during the meeting, one of the first was the Spanish monarchy and its symbolic and diplomatic role. It was noted that the Kings of Spain perform a function of modern and cultural representation rather than political influence. Unlike other European royal houses, the Spanish monarchy maintains a prudent distance from media excesses and is perceived as an element of institutional continuity.

The debate on the European Union took up an important part of the discussion, since, as Charles Powell emphasized, research and analysis on Europe constitute the core of the Elcano Royal Institute’s work. Spain is the fourth-largest economy in the European Union, and its citizens are among the most pro-European in the entire bloc. More than 80% of Spaniards consider themselves strongly pro-European, and the EU is seen as a source of modernization, stability, and progress.

The relationship between Spain and Latin America was another major topic of dialogue. The leaders and the institute’s representatives analyzed this complex relationship and pointed out that, although Spain has lost some political influence in the region, it remains a major economic investor. They also discussed China’s growing role in Latin America, which, although economically significant, tends to be overstated by Western countries.

Regarding the Asia-Pacific region, Spain’s strategy is to align itself with that of the European Union. There are, however, some differences — for instance, China is viewed in Spain more positively than in most other European countries and is considered more a partner than a competitor.

Another key aspect of the discussion was Spain’s diplomatic culture: Spain is one of the most multilateralist countries in Europe and shows great confidence in the UN, the EU, and global institutions. Spain’s accession to the European Union was experienced as a “reconciliation with Europe” and with its democratic values. This multilateral vocation remains a constant feature of Spanish foreign policy.

Spain’s relationship with NATO, however, has been more complex. The country’s entry into the Atlantic Alliance in the 1980s was one of the most intense debates of Spain’s newly established democracy. Spain’s strategy has focused more on peacekeeping and cooperation missions than on direct military operations. Currently, public support for NATO is strong, but defense spending remains below the European average. This has led to recent frictions with the U.S. government, which insists that Alliance members should allocate 5% of their GDP to NATO, while Spain’s contribution stands at around 2%.

Finally, the discussion addressed Spain’s internal political fragmentation and the rise of new parties that have reshaped the country’s political landscape: Spain has moved from a two-party system to a multiparty one, with new formations on both the left and the right.

At the end of the meeting, the Leaders obtained a portrait of contemporary Spain: a nation fully integrated into Europe and firmly multilateralist, with a mature diplomacy striving to enhance its international projection.