The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, welcomed his British counterpart, the new Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Edward Miliband, this Wednesday, at a time of renewed momentum in bilateral relations, the culmination of which has been the signing of the UK–European Union Treaty on Gibraltar, initialled on 14 July, and the removal of the fence.
“Our bilateral relations are very good, but the signing of the agreement on Gibraltar represents a historic opportunity to go further and deepen them. Furthermore, we have the Bilateral Strategic Framework signed in London in September 2025, and we wish to continue making progress on its implementation,” said Albares.
Climate emergency
During the meeting, the ministers signed a joint statement in which they recognised the need to prioritise the fight against the climate emergency in their foreign policy, in light of the record-breaking heatwaves and severe wildfires currently affecting Europe as a result of climate change.
They also agreed to jointly lead the green transition, convinced that decarbonisation, energy security and environmental protection are objectives that are inseparable from the prosperity and competitiveness of both countries’ economies.
The joint statement recognises that climate change is a global problem that must be addressed through effective multilateralism and respect for international law; it emphasises the need to adopt effective measures and to mobilise sustainable funding commensurate with the scale of the challenge we face.
Furthermore, Albares and Miliband have signed a cooperation agreement on gender equality to eradicate violence against women and girls, advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and increase the presence of women in decision-making processes, particularly in the field of diplomacy.
Strategic relationship
Spain enjoys a privileged relationship with the United Kingdom, not only in economic terms – as the main market for Spanish exports outside the EU and the second most important destination for our direct investment abroad –; the United Kingdom is the fourth-largest investor in Spain.
“The ties that bind us are much deeper: one million Spaniards and Britons live in both countries, and 19 million British tourists visited Spain in 2025, making it the leading source market for tourists to our country. Spain and the UK are the two best-connected countries in the world by air, with around 400 daily flights in both directions,” Minister Albares pointed out.
Scientists, sportspeople, tourists, students, businesspeople and artists travel constantly between the two countries, bringing the number of British visitors to Spain in 2025 to 50 million. Furthermore, Spain is home to the largest British resident community in Europe, and one of the largest in the world.
International agenda
Albares and Miliband also discussed relations between the UK and the European Union, how to strengthen them and how to further enhance cooperation between the two regions – something essential for continuing to make progress on mutual support in the political, economic and security spheres.
In this regard, the Spanish minister noted that the United Kingdom’s return to the Erasmus programme is excellent news for young European university students.
Other topics discussed included European defence and the conclusions of the recent NATO summit in Ankara, as well as the need to remain united in supporting Ukraine, a sovereign and democratic State that has been the victim of an illegal act of aggression. Spain supports the UK’s participation in the military financial aid package for Ukraine and hopes that negotiations on this matter will conclude soon.
Finally, they also discussed the worrying situation in the Middle East, where it is clear that there is no alternative to diplomacy. “We must continue to demand respect for international law, including the Law of the Sea. The Strait of Hormuz must be reopened in accordance with international law and without any tolls or charges. And, for free transit to be viable, there must be a stable ceasefire and a return to the negotiating table by all parties,” insisted Albares.
Joint statement.
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