Argentina–Spain relations

Argentine-Spanish relations

Argentina	Spain

Argentina–Spain relations refers to the bilateral relationship between the Argentine Republic and the Kingdom of Spain.

History of diplomatic relations

Eva Perón in Spain; 1947

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner with former Spanish King Juan Carlos I in 2009

In 1516, the first Spanish expedition to visit what is now Argentina was led by the explorer Juan Díaz de Solís. In 1536, the first Spanish settlement was created in the Río de la Plata basin. Since then, Argentina was formally incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru governed from Lima under the Spanish crown. In 1776, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created with the head of government placed in Buenos Aires. In 1810, Argentina declared its independence from Spain and the country officially obtained its independence in 1824. In 1863, a Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed between the two nations.^[1]

Since obtaining independence from Spain, diplomatic relations between the two nations have been stable. During the Spanish civil war, Argentina remained neutral and gave asylum to any Spanish citizen requesting it without regards to whether they were Republicans or Franquistas.^[2] At the end of the war, Argentina maintained diplomatic relations with the government of General Francisco Franco. Maintaining diplomatic relations allowed for the first lady of Argentina Eva Perón to visit Spain in 1947 and donate five million tons of food to the Spanish people.^[3]

After the death of General Franco in Spain in 1975, Argentina entered a period of military dictatorship between 1976–1983. In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, also known as the Malvinas in Spanish. Spain recognized and supported the claims of Argentine territorial rights over the islands. In 2012, British documents were made declassified and stated that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher feared that during the Falkland war, Spain would join Argentina by invading Gibraltar. ^[4]

A dispute arose in 2012, when Argentina sought to nationalize YPF as Spain warned against such a move.^[5] On 16 April, Argentina's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced the nationalization, to which Spain warned of a "clear and decisive" response.^[6] Since then, Argentina has recompensed the Spanish government over the take over of YPF.^[7]

Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

Resident diplomatic relations

• Argentina has an embassy in Madrid,^[8] and consulates-general in Barcelona,^[9] and Vigo^[10] and consulates in Cádiz,^[11] Palma,^[12] and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.^[13]
• Spain has an embassy in Buenos Aires^[14] and consulates-general in Bahía Blanca,^[15] Córdoba,^[16] Mendoza,^[17] and Rosario.^[18]

See also

• Argentines in Spain
• Spanish Argentine

References

1. Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Argentina (in Spanish)
2. La guerra civil española y la sociedad argentina (in Spanish)
3. 16 días con Evita Perón en España (in Spanish)
4. El País: ¿Puede España atacar Gibraltar? (in Spanish)
5. Spain Cautions Argentina on Takeover of Energy Firm
6. Spain Pledges Action Against Argentina Over YPF Seizure
7. Spain's Repsol agrees to $5 billion settlement with Argentina over YPF
8. Embassy of Argentina in Madrid (in Spanish)
9. Consulate-General of Argentina in Barcelona (in Spanish)
10. Consulate-General of Argentina in Vigo (in Spanish)
11. Consulate of Argentina in Cádiz (in Spanish)
12. Consulate of Argentina in Palma (in Spanish)
13. Consulate of Argentina in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in Spanish)
14. Embassy of Spain in Buenos Aires (in Spanish)
15. Consulate-General of Spain in Bahía Blanca (in Spanish)
16. Consulate-General of Spain in Córdoba (in Spanish)
17. Consulate-General of Spain in Mendoza (in Spanish)
18. Consulate-General of Spain in Rosario (in Spanish)

External links

• Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on bilateral relations with Argentina (in Spanish)