The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, received his Icelandic counterpart, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, at the Viana Palace today. The bilateral meeting preceded the ceremony to celebrate the opening of Iceland's resident embassy in Madrid, at which the ministers discussed various issues of common interest, such as European security and feminist diplomacy, in which both countries are leaders.
For 75 years, Spain and Iceland have maintained excellent diplomatic relations as friendly countries, NATO allies and partners through the European Economic Area. They share very similar views on global issues such as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the defence of multilateralism, gender and LGBTI+ policies, and development.
Shared values
The opening of the resident embassy in Madrid, Albares has assured, ‘is a step that brings us closer than ever in defending the values and interests we share’. Both countries advocate for an international order based on rules, respect for human rights, multilateralism and the rights of the most vulnerable groups, and collaboration in the fight against climate change.
They also work closely together in their ongoing efforts to end the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the war in Ukraine through a just and lasting peace.
Within the context of NATO, Spain is collaborating with Iceland on the surveillance mission as part of Operation Persistent Effort to defend its northern border. To this end, between July and August this year, the Spanish Air Force was deployed for the first time to Keflavik Air Base.
Embassy in Madrid
After the bilateral meeting, the ministers went to the Santa Cruz Palace, where the main inauguration ceremony for the Icelandic embassy in Madrid took place.
The event featured an initial ministerial panel in which Albares and Gunnarsdóttir discussed European security, feminist foreign policy and the Middle East. The first panel was followed by two other thematic panels, the first on security, defence and cooperation in the Arctic and the second on human rights.
The event was attended by several European and Latin American ambassadors, representatives of various ministries, companies, think tanks and the Spanish Polar Committee, among others. Also in attendance was part of the business delegation accompanying the Icelandic Minister on this trip, as well as her honorary consuls in Spain.
After the event in Santa Cruz, the State Secretary for the European Union, Fernando Sampedro, accompanied the Minister and the Icelandic Ambassador to Spain to the new headquarters of the Icelandic Foreign Ministry for its formal inauguration.
For images of the event, click here.
—NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION—