The Diplomat
The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ángeles Moreno Bau, held a telephone conversation on Wednesday with her US counterpart, Wendy Sherman, with whom she discussed the bilateral relationship, as well as other matters of interest, including Russia.
According to Moreno herself on Twitter, the two held a “productive conversation” in which they analysed “the situation regarding Russia and Ukraine, with the prospect of the next NATO-Russia Council meeting, as well as bilateral and global issues of common interest”.
The Foreign Ministry’s ‘number two’ added: “Spain and the United States are partners committed to promoting security and stability in Europe and to supporting our NATO allies in resolving disputes diplomatically.
State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed that Moreno and Sherman discussed “coordinating U.S. and European efforts to deter and impose significant costs on any additional Russian aggression against Ukraine”.
Price added that they discussed “the use of diplomacy, including through continued coordination between NATO allies and partners, to de-escalate tensions”.
The latest contact between a member of Joe Biden’s administration and the government comes on the eve of the arrival in Madrid of the new US ambassador, Julissa Reynoso, after her appointment was approved by the Senate. Reynosso is expected in Madrid in the second half of this month.
Last week, in its annual report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the “fluid dialogue with the Biden Administration at all levels”, stressing that the minister, José Manuel Albares, has spoken several times with the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, with whom he met last October in Paris.
