The Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday the appointment of a new Spanish Ambassador to the Republic of Argentina, the current diplomatic representative of Spain in Colombia, Joaquín María de Aristegui. This puts an end to the diplomatic crisis which began last May, when Javier Mieli called Begoña Gómez “corrupt” during a Vox gathering, organized in Madrid.
This newspaper was able to confirm this from foreign sources, during the holding of the weekly meeting of the Government, chaired this Tuesday by Maria Jesus Monterowhile Pedro Sanchez He is on an official trip to India.
A spokesperson for the minister, José Manuel Albaresdid not want to give more details on what has changed in these five months to overcome the almost personal confrontation between the President of the Argentine Republic and that of the Spanish government.
Joaquín María de Aristegui Laborde, ambassador to Colombia, now appointed to Argentina.
MAEC
However, in the department of Albares, it was noted that the situations of Mexico and Spain were not “comparable”. In this regard, we must recall the snub of the president of the North American country, Claudia Sheinbaum, who vetoed King Felipe VI during his inauguration a month ago.
The reaction of the Spanish government was as follows: just don’t send a representative at the ceremony. However, Milei’s personal criticism of Sánchez’s wife deserved a much higher response, with the ambassador’s withdrawal, Maria Jesus Alonso.
Relations between the two countries are not only historical, emotional and cultural. They result in a first-rate economic exchange, which is why the Minister of the Economy immediately Carlos’ bodyhad to come out to “reassure” Spanish companies with business or investments in Argentina.
All these circumstances result in joint statement that the two foreign ministries sent after the approval of the new appointment [consulte el comunicado en PDF].
“Are sister citiesunited by deep human and social ties,” the note explains. “Our common language and culture as well as the importance economic, commercial and investment exchanges They must always serve as a guide in relations between our two countries.
Both leaders admit that, therefore, “the relationship between our governments must be up to par of the intensity of the ties that unite our peoples and our societies”.
And this is why it is constantly pronounced in the first person plural: “We are committed to strengthening our relationship to reach the maximum level of mutual trust and respect in political and institutional terms that our people deserve.
Contextual reasons
Beyond the competing ideologies of its leaders and the provocations of Milei, it was essential for Spain to remedy this situation. Not just internally, given the presence of hundreds of thousands of Argentines in Spain and the overlapping interests with this country. But also and above all for foreign policy reasons.
Spain and Argentina are priority partners, “both bilaterally and within our respective regional blocs, the European Union and Mercosur.” and our country would weaken its negotiating position in Brussels if there was no common position between Madrid and Buenos Airesworking together to increase trade between the two blocs.
In other words, “to achieve a rapid and effective conclusion of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur“, as recognized in the public note from Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, Spain has embarked on the organization of the Ibero-American Summit, in 2026. The support and participation of Argentina, whose weight is increasing in the South American cone, is the key to the success of this event. which the Albares forum is trying to reinvigorate.
“As members of the Ibero-American Community of Nations, we must continue to strengthen the organization as a space of progress, solidarity and consensus for the benefit of the Ibero-American people,” states the note.
The last paragraph of the declaration could seem like a final hypothesis of guilt on the part of the two governments, for the effects that these five months of tensions, although Argentina never withdrew its ambassador to Spain, had on the two cities: “We are committed to always looking for points of connection to achieve our common goal, which is the well-being of our citizens“.
