Working in the network of Spanish embassies and consulates is far from the idyll associated with diplomacy. This is what is denounced by both the personnel working for the State abroad and the representatives of Spanish citizens residing abroad who are users of this network. All of them have long been fighting for an improvement of resources in the face of the "collapse" they claim to be experiencing in consular services. "There is anger" with the ministry, diplomatic sources explain to el ARA, denouncing the indifference on the part of the Spanish government, despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assuring this newspaper that they are working to resize the service.

Pedro Sánchez has set out be the antithesis of Donald TrumpThis also applies to the US attack on Iran. Although the Spanish Prime Minister's office categorically rejects the Iranian regime, it maintains a similarly neutral stance regarding the offensive launched by the Americans in the Middle East, arguing that the Trump administration's disregard for international law cannot be condoned. This position differs from the more moderate view of the European Union as a whole, and especially from that of Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.who have aligned themselves directly with the Americans against Iran. On Monday, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares was unequivocal, rejecting any military support for the United States: "The US bases in Rota and Morón de la Frontera are not being used, nor will they be used, for anything that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations," he stated on Telecinco. Defense Minister Margarita Robles also reaffirmed this position. The cooperation agreement between the two countries requires Spain's authorization for the United States to operate at the Andalusian bases when the operations fall outside the scope of the agreement signed by both states. The Defense Minister argued that they reject any operations in the current conflict because they consider the US attack on Iran to be outside the protection of international law. Following this rejection, Robles confirmed that the Americans have withdrawn up to fifteen tanker aircraft from the bases: "The US military decides what to do with its tanker aircraft, which have not carried out, nor will they carry out, any maintenance or support operations. That is probably why they have decided to move to other bases." "We are not in a regime like the one in Tehran, but the solution can never be the use of violence, regardless of who is the victim," added Robles, who assured that she is in constant contact with the Spanish military personnel deployed on missions in Iraq, Turkey, and Lebanon.

Practically, ten years after the Brexit referendumGibraltar returns to the single market, the fence is definitively taken down, and while it remains under British sovereignty, the Rock cedes border control of ports and airports to the Spanish police. The future of Gibraltar now has a defined legal roadmap according to the full text of the agreement between Brussels, London, and Madrid, which the Spanish and British foreign ministries made public this Thursday morning. The legal formulation –a text of more than 1,000 pages– puts it in black and white the political agreement to which the three capitals involved In the negotiations, in addition to Gibraltar itself, they reached an agreement in June of last year.

Donald Trump has shaken the world order and consolidated an era—inaugurated by Vladimir Putin—in which the law of the strongest governs international relations. This has forced all states, especially the allies of the European Union, to rethink their role. Spain is no exception; on the contrary, those at La Moncloa (the Prime Minister's residence) are aware of this changing landscape and are working on a comprehensive strategy for the Spanish president to establish a distinct profile in all crises and, at the same time, try to be influential in shaping European foreign policy. All of this is taking place against a backdrop of waning pressure on domestic politics, where he is trying to counter the right-wing agenda with international issues: this Monday will be an example of this with the meeting, after almost a year, with the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, regarding the deployment of troops to Ukraine.

Venezuela is part of Spanish politics, not only because of the thousands of Venezuelans living in the country—especially in Madrid—but also because, beyond Gaza, it is one of the international issues that most strains parliamentary relations. This was evident once again this Thursday in the Congress of Deputies with the extraordinary appearance of Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who explained his policy regarding the Venezuelan situation and defended not only Spain's role as a "bridge" with the country but also the role of the former Spanish president as mediator. He faced criticism from the right and far right throughout the discussion, despite the fact that the Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office has opposed investigating him for his alleged links to Venezuelan drug trafficking. "I hope they apologize to him," reacted Spanish Vice President María Jesús Montero afterward.

Spain's first significant shift in its narrative regarding its colonial past. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares acknowledged the "contrasts" in history this Friday, admitting that "there has been pain and injustice towards the indigenous peoples." He made these remarks in Madrid during the opening of an exhibition entitled Women in Indigenous MexicoThis allows us to read these words as an attempt to reach out to the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, who since the beginning of her term He has repeatedly insisted that Spain must apologize for the excesses committed during colonization.Sheinbaum herself responded to the minister, assuring him that today's declaration is "very important" and calling it a "first step."

Neither Germany's reluctance nor the doubts expressed by other countries: what is holding back the official status of Catalan in the European Union is the People's Party (PP). This was denounced this Friday by President Salvador Illa from the Basque Country, a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz would throw water on the wine of the Spanish government's plans with the co-official languages in Europe. "If this is still not resolved, it's because the PP has made calls," Illa said during a breakfast briefing in Vitoria before meeting with the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, to discuss issues such as administrative reform, housing, immigration management, and the social economy, in addition to both pledging to make Galician in Europe a reality. "And then we beat our chests in favor of Spain. Which Spain? The Spain in which Catalan and Basque are provincial? [...] I'm not interested in this Spain, I'm interested in a plural and diverse Spain," he added at the breakfast.

The Valencian Parliament will censure the Spanish Foreign Minister, J. Manuel Albares, "to despise the Valencian," according to reports. announce the Valencian president, Carlos Mazón, who constantly kicks the ball forward, so everyone pushes day after day. However, the new Mazonesque scheme is a particularly twisted (and especially worrying) example of how the cynicism and lies of certain political discourses end up generating what we know as alternative facts: a completely distorted version of reality that aspires to present itself as truth.

For the first time since the start of the Israeli offensive, Europe is beginning to have a firm voice in calling for an end to the barbarity against civilians in Gaza. Spain has been one of the most active countries from the outset. This is reiterated by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in an interview in which he analyzes the situation in the Gaza Strip and also the war in Ukraine, as well as the issue of Catalan in Europe.

Coinciding with the first anniversary of the recognition of Palestine, Spain hosted a meeting this Sunday of the so-called Madrid Group, a group of European, Arab, and Muslim countries that support a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. This time, however, the meeting was called Madrid+, because some twenty countries that have not gone that far participated, along with special guests such as Brazil. At the start of the meeting, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced a proposal to extend the list of individual sanctions against Israel and also within the European Union "against those who want to make the two-state solution unviable." He also stressed that Brussels should suspend the association agreement with the state led by Benjamin Netanyahu this week. The EU has opened up to studying it– and has called for all countries to declare an arms embargo against Israel. In Spain, the Congress of Deputies has begun processing a law to make this possible, although from the same The Spanish government has cooled the initiative.

A team from France and the United Kingdom will travel to Ukraine next week to advance the deployment of peacekeeping troops. This was announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot before participating in Madrid in the fourth meeting of the G5+, a forum created in November to address European security and the evolution of the war in Ukraine, which includes the European Commission, Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. This time, Madrid was able to boast of hosting the summit at a key moment in the negotiations. However, it is known that there are certain discrepancies between some of the countries, such as on the issue from the dispatch of peacekeeping troopsFor Spain, this debate is "premature," as it is for Poland, as stated by its Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski.

When the crisis over the law broke out, only yes is yes, the Spanish government offered Podemos that Irene Montero be appointed ambassador to Chile. Treating this position, the highest level within the diplomatic career ladder, as a "nice" formula - according to the purple formation - to get rid of someone, is a common practice questioned for years by members of the diplomatic corps, made up of state officials who must take competitive exams and accumulate merits for years to access them. Other former ministers of Pedro Sánchez, unlike Montero, accepted this position. Isabel Celaá, former Minister of Education and former spokesperson for the executive, is ambassador to the Vatican; Héctor Gómez, former Minister of Industry, is ambassador to the United Nations Organization, based in New York, and Miquel Iceta, former head of Culture, is ambassador to UNESCO, based in Paris.