The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, has defended multilateralism as “the only path to peace” and the principles of the “new Spanish foreign policy” on the occasion of receiving the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) Medal in New York, which recognises people who demonstrate “responsible internationalism and work to expand public knowledge of international affairs”.
“It is a great honor to be here today to receive this medal from an institution that was founded with the mission of achieving a just peace, and that has been working for more than a century to develop an informed opinion on international relations and global problems,” said Albares during the ceremony, which took place on Tuesday night (early Wednesday morning) during the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) gala dinner.
“In a world in which our main challenges – climate change, global security, the effects of pandemics or energy crises – transcend borders, the response to these challenges must also transcend borders,” he continued. In these circumstances, he warned, “cooperation and multilateralism are a necessity and the only way if we want to continue advancing on that path of peace, understanding and joint progress that the international order represents.”
“This is the conviction that guides Spanish international policy, a new foreign policy that seeks to actively contribute to these global efforts, side by side with our allies, partners and friends, playing an active role in addressing issues of common interest,” said Albares.
“From the defense of the United Nations Charter in conflict zones such as Ukraine and the Middle East to the defense of a two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Spanish foreign policy is a policy of principles and coherent leadership: we defend human rights and international law in Kyiv, in Gaza, in Beirut,” he added.
“We know very well that insecurity and disillusionment feed the fear that feeds extremism and narrow nationalism,” he lamented. Therefore, he said, “instead of retreating into isolationism or nationalism, instead of closing borders, our new foreign policy agenda advocates a deeper commitment to the world,” which “means strengthening the European project, defending democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and defending multilateralism and the United Nations.”
“This doctrine is reflected in a greater diplomatic presence of Spain, whether through our constant support for the sovereignty of Ukraine or our leadership in defending a two-state solution in the Middle East as the only way to achieve definitive peace in the region,” continued the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Our role in international institutions, from the European Union to the United Nations, reflects this commitment to use diplomacy as a force for progress and stability,” he said.
The minister also warned against “the scourge of hate speech, amplified by digital platforms,” which “is directed against the vulnerable: immigrants, minorities, women and people of diverse orientations,” which uses disinformation as a “weapon” and which sees “everything through the lens of conflict.” “We are no strangers to this phenomenon in the European Union, where far-right Eurosceptic forces are gaining ground,” he warned. “The recent elections to the European Parliament are an example of how these forces can shape the European narrative and agenda even without achieving majorities in the institutions,” he added.
“When these narratives permeate society, they can seriously reduce the government’s room for manoeuvre to act in the international arena, and it is only in the international arena that some of society’s most existential challenges, global challenges, can be addressed: climate change, pandemics, artificial intelligence, nuclear proliferation and, of course, war,” said Albares.
“That is the raison d’être of our new foreign policy to strengthen Spain’s international commitment and presence. This is the objective of a new foreign policy that shows the world the best values of our society: peace, justice, dialogue and cooperation to face the global challenges we face,” he concluded.
The FPA Medal
Founded in 1918, the FPA is a private, non-profit, non-partisan educational organization that educates the American public on major foreign policy issues and encourages discussion at various levels. It is based in New York and, unlike think tanks based in Washington, its main purpose is not to influence decision-making, but to carry out outreach work that contributes to strengthening American democracy.
Initially created as the League of Free Nations Association by personalities such as John Foster Dulles and Eleanor Roosevelt, it sought to support the international role of the United States and its participation in the design of the Versailles Peace Treaty. Today it is a recognized association among diplomats and internationalists.
The FPA Medal is the highest award given by the organization. It recognizes individuals who demonstrate responsible international work and work to expand public knowledge of international affairs. Among others, the award recipients include King Felipe VI (2022), Nadia Calviño (2023), Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, and Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank.
