La estrategia atlantista en la política exterior española (1996-2004)

Abstract

The joining of Spain to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and then the European Community in the 1980’ represent the so-called consensus in foreign policy between the country’s two main political parties. Spain’s international position was settled during the 1990’s with the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Popular Party (PP), regardless of each government’s policy making. Aznar’s government (1996-2004) based its foreign policy on a more transatlantic basis. From a realistic view on international relations, an approach to the superpower (United States) could introduce Spain to more powerful groups and later solve internal problems, such as domestic terrorism. September 11 brought about a situation that could mean a window of opportunity to undertake a new international counterterrorism action. Bush’s Administration developed the Global War on Terror Strategy which directly included other States’ support. Aznar’s government shared in some way Bush’s GWOT strategy as a consistent act of a country which had traditionally suffered from terrorism. The Spanish President did not hesitate to support Bush in any decision that he took regarding terrorism, including the Iraq war. The aim of this PhD dissertation is to demonstrate that a political strategy was designed by the Spanish Government of the Popular Party (PP) with the objective of improving Spain’s position at the international sphere. This strategy was based on Spanish national interests at an international sphere and consisted of changing the traditional conduct lines of the Spanish foreign policy, which were fixed during the democratic transition period. Relations between the Spanish and the US Presidents, José María Aznar and George W. Bush during 2001-2004, were different from subordination or dependency, as stated by media sources. Thanks to the window of opportunity upon the attacks of September 11, 2001, a favorable situation to approach the superpower was possible. Aznar first sought a good reception at the presidential level that permitted to exert influence to the USA in order to develop other political, such as those related to counterterrosim. As consequence and result, the deepest external relations between Spain and the United States at political level were developed.