La política exterior de España hacia las monarquías árabes del Golfo (1978-2021)

  1. Paloma González del Miño 1
  2. David Hernández Martínez 2
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

  2. 2 Universidad Camilo José Cela
    info

    Universidad Camilo José Cela

    Villanueva de la Cañada, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03f6h9044

Journal:
Relaciones internacionales

ISSN: 1699-3950

Year of publication: 2021

Issue: 48

Pages: 173-192

Type: Article

DOI: 10.15366/RELACIONESINTERNACIONALES2021.48.009 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Relaciones internacionales

Abstract

Spanish foreign policy towards the Arab world is the object of numerous papers, and authors who approach Spanish relations with North Africa and the Middle East do so from different disciplines and theoretical perspectives. Studies with emphasis on Hispano-Arab relations take as their main focus the Maghreb area and, especially, Morocco, due to Spain’s close political, economic, social and historical ties with the Moroccan kingdom. However, there are other scenarios within the broad and heterogeneous region which also acquire significant importance within Spain’s international agenda, such as the Gulf monarchies. The last period of the Franco regime constituted a precedent in relations between Spain and the Gulf monarchies since it was the first rapprochement between the two parties. In this sense, the arrival of the democratic system in Spain does not introduce significant changes in Spanish foreign policy towards the region, but rather successive democratic governments will try to deepen the political, economic, cultural and security relations with the GCC members.This paper examines Spanish foreign policy towards the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, from the consolidation of democracy in Spain until current days (1978-2021). The research includes a period in which relations have been progressively intensifying, reverberating in different areas such as commerce, energy, security, culture, and politics. The Saudi kingdom is the country in the region which Spain has the closest and most consolidated ties, although the growing weight of the UAE and Qatar also stands out. The energy sector and, particularly, oil commerce, is the main element that motivates Spanish interest in these six countries. Nonetheless, throughout the period analyzed, the attention of Spanish political and economic actors on the GCC countries has been extended to other sectors and issues such as infrastructure, financial services, or the food industry. Furthermore, the Gulf monarchies are also assuming an increasingly leading role in the Spanish economy, investing in strategic national sectors in recent years.Defense and military issues have become another fundamental aspect of relations between Spain and the members of the GCC. The Spanish state is one of the main exporters of arms and military equipment in the region. This type of link has resulted in consolidated political cooperation between the countries. Spain has always supported the different royal families and their political systems as mechanisms to guarantee stability in the region and safeguard foreign interests. The different Spanish governments have never conditioned relations with Arab partners on issues such as democracy or human rights, which are issues that have always been excluded from the common agenda. This is a political trend that remains within the Spanish strategy throughout the period analyzed.A central element of Spain-Arab countries axis is the high trust between the Spanish royal house and their counterparts in the region, with a strong diplomatic character that contributes to enhancing Spanish foreign policy and public image among the area partners. The research substantiates that relations with the Gulf monarchies is one of the areas of Spanish foreign policy which shows the greatest continuity and coherence over time. There is a consensus among the main Spanish political, social, and economic actors to maintain the special bilateral relations in a discretionary environment. However, in recent years, criticism and social pressure is increasing in Spain to limit the association with this type of political regime. The paper exposes the evolution of Hispanic-Arab relations through different stages, which correspond to political and social changes that have happened both at the domestic level and in the international context. However, Spain has always tried to sustain and preserve its relations with the members of the GCC, despite the numerous internal, regional, and global crises of the last decades.The study is framed within a foreign policy analysis approach, establishing two central lines of inquiry. In the first place, Spain’s relations with the Gulf monarchies is elaborated according to the development of the international, regional, and domestic context. Secondly, it traces the main goals and interests on which the Spanish State tries to boost partnerships with Arab regimes, as well as the decisions, means and resources implemented to make them a success. Spanish foreign policy during the democratic period has shifted mainly along three axes: the United States, Europe, and Latin America. The Arab world represents the fourth pillar of Spain’s foreign policy. At this point, the monarchies of the Gulf have an exceptional role, which is reflected in the excessive concern of the Spanish governments to preserve the special nature of relations above any external or internal conditioning factor. The research justifies the need to address a reality of Spanish foreign policy that is sometimes little studied and analyzed, even though it is shown to be an important component of the international relations of democratic Spain. Relations between Spain and the Arab monarchies seems to enter a new period of marked by the progressive distancing of the parties since their priorities and objectives are increasingly disparate.The general purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze Spain’s foreign policy towards the region, but also to explore possible future scenarios for bilateral relations. Current circumstances and conjunctures in Spain, the Arab world and the international system are forcing the Spanish authorities to reformulate all foreign policy, including their relations with the Gulf monarchies. If Spain wants to continue being a relevant partner for the GCC monarchies, it has to rethink some of its political, economic and security positions. More and more foreign powers have interests in the Gulf region, while at the same time the six members of the GCC have more complex and ambitious foreign agendas, meaning that Spain has a difficult time in maintaining its relevance for its Arab partners. The paper tries to explain and define a large part of these unknowns and problems that arise within Spanish foreign policy. The Arab monarchies will continue to be political and economic partners for Spain in the short and medium term, although the trend seems to show important signs of change and disruption.

€ View funding

Funding information

Este artículo es resultado de investigaciones realizadas dentro de los proyectos: “Crisis y procesos de cambio regional en el norte de África. Sus implicaciones para España” (CSO2017-84949-C3-3-P) y “Crisis y dinámicas locales y transnacionales en el Mediterráneo Occidental. Cambios sociopolíticos, movilizaciones y diáspora” (CSO2017-84949-C3-1-P) financiados por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), la Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER).

Funders

Bibliographic References

  • Alden, C. y Aran, A. (2017). Foreign policy analysis. New approaches. London: Routledge. Second Edition. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315442488
  • Algora, M.D. (2007). España en el Mediterráneo: entre las relaciones hispanoárabes y el reconocimiento del Estado de Israel. Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals, 79, 15-34.
  • Breuning, M. (2007). Foreign Policy Analysis. A comparative introduction. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230609242
  • Brighi, E. y Hill, C. (1996). Implementation and behaviour. En Smith, S; Hadfield, A; Dunne, T. (Eds.). Foreign Policy. Theories, Actors, Cases. Oxford University Press. Third Edition.
  • Del Arenal, C. (2008). Consenso y disenso en la política exterior de España. Documento de Trabajo, 25. Real Instituto Elcano.
  • Córdoba Hernández, A. M. (2011). España, Israel y Palestina: pasado y presente de sus relaciones diplomáticas. Historia y Política, 26, julio-diciembre, 292-323.
  • Domínguez de Olazábal, I. (2017). Arabia Saudí: un gigante con pies de petróleo. Dinámicas internas y retos regionales. Documento de Trabajo Opex. 83. Fundación Alternativas.
  • Eiroa, M. (2013). El pasado no es suficiente: temáticas y conflictos en los encuentros de Franco con los líderes árabes y musulmanes. MEAH. Sección Árabe-Islam, 62, 23-46.
  • Fernández, J.M. (2017). Los viajes del rey embajador. Las visitas al exterior de Don Juan Carlos, aval de la democratización española. Aportes, 94, año XXXII (2), 219-242.
  • Fernández-Molina, I. (2017). EU and EU member states’ responses to the Arab Spring. En Szmolka, I. (Ed.). Political change in the Middle East and North Africa. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9781474415286.003.0014
  • González, I. (2007). La hermandad hispanoárabe en la política cultural del franquismo (1936-1956). Anales de Historia Contemporánea, 23, 183-197.
  • González del Miño, P. y Hernández, D. (2021). La estrategia de Arabia Saudí en el Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo. Espacios de cooperación y conflicto. Revista Estudios de Asia y África, vol. 56, nº1 (174), 5-36. https://doi.org/10.24201/eaa.v56i1.2543
  • González del Miño, P. y Hernández, D. (2019). La política exterior de Adolfo Suárez y Felipe González: las relaciones entre la España democrática y las monarquías árabes del Golfo (1976-1996). En Fernández, M. (Ed.): Historia de la Transición en España. La dimensión internacional y otros estudios. Editorial Sílex.
  • González del Miño, P. (2007). La política exterior de España hacia el Magreb y Oriente Medio (2004-2007). Prioridades permanentes y nuevos desafíos. Quorum, 19, 94-107.
  • Hernández, D. (2020). El reino de Arabia Saudí y la hegemonía de Oriente Medio. Editorial La Catarata.
  • Hernando de Larramendi, M. (2015). España y el mundo árabe. En Beneyto, J.M. y Pereira, J.C. (Eds.). Política exterior de España en los siglos XX y XXI. CEU Ediciones.
  • Hernando de Larramendi, M. (2014). Las relaciones exteriores de España con el mundo árabe y musulmán durante el siglo XX. ARWAQ, 9, 39-54.
  • Hernando de Larramendi, M. (2009). La política exterior española hacia el Magreb. Actores e intereses. Editorial Ariel.
  • Hill, C. (2003). The changing politics of foreign policy. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Hudson, V.M. y Day, B.S. (2020). Foreign policy analysis. Classic and contemporary theory. Rowman & Littlefield. Third Edition.
  • Hudson, V.M. (2005). Foreign Policy Analysis: Actor-specific theory and the ground of International Relations. Foreign Policy Analysis, 2005, I, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-8594.2005.00001.x
  • Aixalá i Blanch, A. (2005). La política exterior española ante los retos de su politización: del consenso a la legitimidad. Revista CIDOB d’afers internacionals, 69, 89-105.
  • Jiménez, J.C. (2011). La idea de España como potencia internacional en los modelos de política exterior de Aznar y Rodríguez Zapatero. Mar oceana: Revista del humanismo español e iberoamericano, 29, 55-92.
  • Lasagna, M. (1995). Las determinantes internas de la política exterior: un tema descuidado en la teoría de la política exterior. Estudios Internacionales, 387-409.
  • López, B. (2013). El Sahara y las relaciones hispano-marroquíes. RIPS. Revista de Investigaciones Políticas y Sociológicas, vol. 12, 2, 65-85.
  • López, B., Hernando de Larramendi, M. (2010). Las relaciones de España con el Mediterráneo y el mundo árabo-musulman. Estado de la cuestión en perspectiva histórica. En López, B. y Hernando de Larramendi, M. (Eds.). España, el Mediterráneo y el mundo árabo-musulman. Diplomacia e Historia. Icaria.
  • Manzano, C. (2013). Política exterior y de seguridad española en 2012: entre lo pragmático y lo involuntario. Anuario Internacional CIDOB 2013, 215-222.
  • Molina, I. (2019). España en el mundo en 2019: perspectivas y desafíos. Elcano Policy Paper. Real Instituto Elcano.
  • Morán, F. (1980). Una política exterior para España. Editorial Planeta.
  • Morin, J.F. y Paquin, J. (2018). Foreign Policy Analysis. A toolbox. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61003-0
  • Ottaway, D. (2009): The King and us: US-Saudi relations in the wake of 9/11. Foreign Affairs. vol. 88, 3 (May/June), 121-131.
  • Pardo, R. (2014). 40 años de política exterior española: el modelo de la monarquía democrática y su evolución. En Navajas Zubeldia, C. e Iturriaga Barco, D. (Eds.). El reinado de Juan Carlos I. (1975-2014). Actas del VI Congreso Internacional de Historia de Nuestro Tiempo (pp. 29-49). Universidad de la Rioja, 2019.
  • Pérez Gil, L.V. (2012). Elementos para una teoría de la política exterior. Editorial Tiran lo Blanch.
  • Saldaña, M. y Montero, S. (2012). Estudios de caso de la política exterior española hacia el Mundo Árabe y Musulmán: países del Golfo. REIM. Revista de Estudios Internacionales Mediterráneos, 12, 161-181.
  • Sanahuja, J.A. (2006). El viraje neocon de la política exterior española y las relaciones con América Latina. Pensamiento Propio, 11 (23), 9-36.
  • Sánchez Alvaray, C. (9.06.2020). España y los países del Golfo Arábigo impulsan sus relaciones económicas. El correo del Golfo.
  • Soriano, R. (2011). La alianza de civilizaciones en España. Crítica y réplicas. Revista Internacional de Pensamiento Político, I Época, vol. 6, 109-148.
  • Vargas-Alzate, L.F. (2010). Debate entre política exterior y relaciones internacionales. Una reactivación del orden teórico. Revista Universidad AEFIT, vol. 46, 157, enero-marzo, 75-90.
  • Bases de estadísticas
  • CORES. Corporación de Reservas Estratégicas de Productos Petrolíferos (CORES). Recuperado de: https://www.cores.es/es/estadisticas (19.02.2021).
  • Histórico de informes de material de defensa. Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo. Recuperado de: https://comercio.gob.es/ImportacionExportacion/Informes_Estadisticas/Paginas/Hitorico_Material_Defensa.aspx (22.02.2021).
  • ICEX. España Exportación e Importación. Recuperado de: https://www.icex.es/icex/es/navegacion-principal/todos-nuestros-servicios/informacion-de-mercados/paises/mapa/index.html (18.02.2021).
  • OEC. The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Recuperado de: https://oec.world/en/profile/country/esp (22.02.2021).
Data source: Dialnet