After taking part in the National Prayer Breakfast and attending a lunch-talk at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Rodríguez Zapatero, addressed the Atlantic Council, which is a centre for the analysis and specialised study of security and defence matters, followed by discussion.
He guaranteed that Spain will continue in Afghanistan in order to get the country back on its feet and suggested working to build "a new transatlantic community" to include Latin America and the Atlantic countries of Africa.
President Rodríguez Zapatero expressed the "firm commitment" of Spain and of the European Governments" to the conflict in Afghanistan and reminded everyone that Europe has more than 30,000 troops in that country.
In his opinion fighting terrorists, as is happening in Afghanistan, is necessary, as well as contending with ideas, understanding between cultures and the alliance of civilisations.
"It's what we are all putting at risk in Afghanistan" said the President before recalling the latest Spanish solider to lose his life in that country when a mine exploded.
Security in the new century
Mr Rodríguez Zapatero added that the United States will continue to be the first world power, but "it needs Europe" to face up to the new challenges.
In this respect, he guaranteed that Spain will continue providing proof of "firmness, loyalty and collaboration" with the United States in the war on terrorism.
In relation with the conflict in the Middle East he expressed his belief that there is an opportunity to begin a new dialogue.
Transatlantic Relations
The President of the Government is committed to adapting transatlantic relations to the new century and to incorporating into that dialogue Latin America and the Atlantic-African point of view, which is a region where Islamic terrorism has spread.
Faced with this terrorism, he upheld his initiative with the Alliance of Civilisations, which he is confident that the United States will soon be joining.
Mr Rodríguez Zapatero supported the strengthening of the EU role in foreign relations, thanks to the Lisbon Treaty.
The EU has to assume "more responsibilities, it has to have more initiatives, it has to play more of a leading role in collective security" and it has to do it "fully in tandem with the United States" he said.
Plans for the new NATO
He also reported on his plans for the new NATO that have to be defined in the summit that the Alliance will be holding in Lisbon at the end of the year.
It has to be made clear, he said, that the purposes of NATO are of a "defensive nature, that its resources are not directed against any country and that the organisation should not be considered as an enemy of any country".
That new strategy must pay special attention to nuclear proliferation, to the dialogue with Russia, to the spread of piracy and to energy security.
For his part, the National Security Adviser, James Jones, after praising the President and highlighting the good relationship between the White House and La Moncloa, he thanked him for the "crucial" Spanish collaboration in Afghanistan, for his support to the closing of Guantanamo and his dynamic response to the needs of Haiti.
Lunch-talk with business leaders
Before addressing the Atlantic Council, the President of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, attended a lunch-talk at the US Chamber of Commerce, with the management of American companies and Spanish business people.
The US Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1908 and is the largest federation of business associations in the United States and the world, with more than three million members.
Before this audience, the President undertook to reduce Spain's public deficit and set out the economic reforms that the Spanish Government is designing.
He encouraged US business leaders to "invest in Spain, to have confidence in Spain" and to see the Government of our country as the driving force of an "innovative, European and efficient" economy.
Mr Rodríguez Zapatero insisted that "the fair description of Spain as a solvent country is going to be guaranteed" and focussed on the fact that Spain's financial system is solid, and that it has not been seen to be affected by the crisis.
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