José Manuel Albares hails the Ibero-American Summit as "the major event for multilateralism in the 21st century"

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has taken part in the fourth edition of the "Spain in the World" course, organised by the Ministry in conjunction with the Menéndez Pelayo International University. In his speech, he hailed the forthcoming Ibero-American Summit in Madrid as "the major event for multilateralism in the 21st century", a forum for reaffirming the Ibero-American community as a global player on the world stage, with its own identity and voice.

"Spain wants to help ensure that the future of multilateralism continues to be shaped in Spanish and Portuguese; to ensure that the voice of Ibero-America is heard more clearly in a world that needs more bridges and fewer borders, more cooperation and less confrontation," said the minister in his address to Allamand, several secretaries of state, researchers, academics and students.

The minister reiterated that the Summit must result in concrete commitments to make Ibero-America a stronger, more united community with a greater global presence; a community capable of responding to crises as one, facilitating the mobility of talent, advancing rights and demonstrating that cooperation remains the wisest, fairest and most humane path in times of uncertainty.

A way of being and existing in the world

Following his address at the course, the minister held a discussion with the Ibero-American Secretary-General, Andrés Allamand, with whom he also discussed the run-up to the Madrid Summit and Spain's role as a bridge between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Under the title 'Ibero-America: a way of being and existing in the world', moderated by Carla Hobb of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the discussion centred on the current situation regarding armed conflicts, the questioning of the multilateral system and the role of Ibero-America in the world, amongst other topics.

Think tanks

During his visit to Santander, the minister held a brief meeting with the students attending the presentations, and had lunch with representatives from various international think tanks who are also taking part in the course as speakers.

Specifically, Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Programme at the International Crisis Group; Bruno Maçaes, of Flint Global; Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director and senior researcher at the ECFR; Maha Yahya, director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre; Steven Wilson, director of the V-Dem Institute; Valeria Moy, director-general of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO); Kristina Spohr, professor in the Department of History at the LSE; and Marta Lagos, founder of the Latinobarómetro Corporation and director of MORI Chil.

Fourth edition

The fourth edition will bring together academics, foreign policymakers, analysts from international think tanks and emerging voices to examine the major transformations in the international order.

This edition also coincides with two particularly significant milestones: the preparations for the Ibero-American Summit and the fortieth anniversary of Spain's membership in the European Communities - an opportunity to rethink the future of European integration. The instability in the Middle East will also be a focus of attention, highlighting the need for active diplomacy that promotes negotiated solutions.

Throughout the week, the following secretaries of state will also be speaking at the course: Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs; Fernando Sampedro, Secretary of State for European Union Affairs; and Eva Granados, Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

Non official translation