The tense relationship between the US and Spain

2021 saw a new tone for diplomatic relations between Spain and the US. One of the ways we see this relationship is the interactions between the respective heads of state: President Joe Biden and Spain’s current socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The relationship between these two men was very telling on how the US views Spain as an ally.

President Biden only spoke to a few world leaders since he took office and prior to the NATO summit in June 2021. While Sánchez tweeted congratulations to Biden in November 2020 once he won the elections, he did not have a phone conversation with the US president since Biden’s inauguration ceremony. Biden not calling Sánchez has been seen as an act of disdain.^[1] Maybe Biden was too busy or maybe he did not see a reason to speak with Sánchez.

The first in person encounter between Sánchez and Biden was during the NATO summit in June 2021, after a group photo of world leaders. Sánchez managed to briefly speak with Biden for a total of 30 seconds and a walk of 20 meters.^[2] After this short meet and greet, Sánchez said he had a very fruitful conversation with Biden about various topics such as Spain and the US’s military and economic relations, what is happening in Latin-América, the immigration crisis, and climate change.^[3] Really? In a span of 30 seconds, they managed to discuss all the above? One should also keep in mind that the White House did not schedule a bilateral meeting between Biden and Sánchez during the entirety of the NATO summit.^[4] I think the reality is a bitter pill for Sánchez to swallow: Biden continues to show no interest in talking with him.

Below I will share some updates on the Biden/Sanchez relations.

The first is the NATO meeting in Brussels of April this year with the below family photo from a Spanish newspaper that may have a hidden message about how the United States views Spain as an ally:

It is interesting to note that Sánchez is at the top right corner out of focus. From the major players in world affairs such as the United States, France, and Britain. It’s almost implied that Biden does not wishes to keep Spain at arm’s length regarding security reasons.

The second is the NATO summit that took place in Madrid in late June of this year to address the Ukraine war and to admit both Sweden and Finland into the military alliance. There is no doubt that both Sánchez and King Felipe VI were gracious hosts to Biden and all other world leaders who are members of NATO. Biden and Sánchez both delivered a joint statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy8j8v63hVA. The tone from both seemed warm: Sánchez referred to Biden as “Dear Mr. President” and Biden referred to his host as “Pedro”.

Both leaders also delivered speeches at the UN General Assembly in early September where they condemned Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and spoke of both domestic and international efforts.

Is this a thawing of the relationship between both nations? We will have to see.

^[1] https://english.elpais.com/international/2021-06-10/joe-biden-and-pedro-sanchez-will-hold-a-bilateral-meeting-at-the-upcoming-nato-summit.html

^[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I3ynuKQ6RM

^[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wZf4rnsjU0

^[4] https://www.archytele.com/the-meeting-between-sanchez-and-biden-in-nato-remains-in-a-greeting-of-less-than-a-minute/