The Arab and Muslim world constituted one of the priority geographical spaces for Spanish foreign policy during the 20th century, but despite Spanish interests being focused on northeast Africa, the geographical scope of Spanish politics was expanded to the Middle East after the Second World War. At that time, it involved an instrumental policy through which General Franco tried to secure the backing of the Arab States for a way out of international isolation and to join the United Nations Organisation, as well as being subsequently used in the Gibraltar issue. Nevertheless, there would be no mention of a global policy for the region until Spain joined the European Community in 1986, and it was at that point that the Mediterranean and the Arab world, already considered priorities in overseas action during the Franco regime (1939-1975), became active factors in Spain’s foreign policy. From that time onwards, the Mediterranean has been the biggest geographical focus of Spanish diplomacy ambitions, with the double aim of strengthening its position as a regional power and reinforcing the defence of its security interests in a region that is perceived as a strategic frontier in the European Union. This last perception has had a decisive contribution to the priority in the region’s relations being upheld by successive governments, and without distinguishing between political allegiances.
Foreign policy, Spain, the Arab and Muslim world, Maghreb, the Middle East, Morocco.