Foreign Affairs promotes the establishment of new Alliances for Sustainable Development

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation continues to consolidate its bilateral international cooperation policy by signing new strategic alliances with some of its partner countries, within the framework of the new Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity.

Defined by Minister José Manuel Albares as a new regulation that establishes a "more effective" system in the face of various challenges, this new partnership model presents sustainable development as a shared multidimensional and non-linear process.

According to the minister, the Alliances for Sustainable Development, translated into bilateral agreements with the partner country, "make it possible to focus cooperation on sectors and areas of development that promote inclusive and innovative public policies".

Signed on 22 July within the framework of the official visit of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, to Uruguay, the Alliance for Sustainable Development Uruguay-Spain 2025-2029 is the first strategic partnership and represents a key step in the bilateral relationship and in the implementation of Spain's new cooperation policy for sustainable development.

It is currently finalising the definition of a new Alliance for Sustainable Development with Egypt, and making progress on another with Panama, thereby strengthening the transformative, feminist and multilateral approach of its cooperation policy, based on mutual respect between partners and joint work to address common sustainable development challenges.

A collaborative, inclusive and innovative process

The new planning instrument identifies regional and global challenges where countries can align their positions. In the case of the new alliance between Spain and Uruguay, an agreement in the field of security and the fight against transnational organised crime, and the promotion of cultural exchanges between the two countries, stand out.

The alliances are the result of a collaborative process wherein the foreign ministries of the different countries and their respective cooperation agencies work together with public bodies, civil society, universities and the private sector to advance cooperation beyond the traditional formulas.

The countries concerned are working together to promote global and regional public goods and shared priorities such as equality, care systems, employment, social cohesion and sustainable production, thanks to their joint vision of promoting and defending human rights, multilateralism and democracy.