Spanish King Calls for Strengthening Ibero-American Summits and Turning Dialogue into Tangible Results

Madrid, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- Spanish King Felipe VI called for continued support for the Ibero-American Community and its summit system, emphasizing the importance of preserving this framework as a model of understanding, cooperation, and political dialogue in the face of tensions and international competition. In his speech at the opening of the 30th Ibero-American Summit in the capital, Madrid, attended by the 22 member states on Wednesday evening, the King stressed that political consensus is not merely a slogan but a process whose results must positively impact citizens’ daily lives. He considered the primary objective of the summit and the Ibero-American relations system to be improving citizens’ living conditions, expressing confidence that the Madrid summit would contribute to achieving this goal by focusing on issues of practical importance to member states and addressing files directly related to current and future challenges. He underscored the importance of strengthening the role of the summit system in consolidating ties among member states bound by shared historical, cultural, and linguistic bonds, thereby providing space for dialogue and coordination of positions on common issues and challenges, and contributing to reinforcing cooperation across the Atlantic.

The opening ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, European Council President António Costa, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Teresa Ribera, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and several heads of state and government from Ibero-American Community member countries.

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in his speech, called on Latin American and Caribbean countries to strengthen their relations with the European Union, citing the European-Canadian rapprochement. He stressed that strengthening ties between the two regions would enhance their political, economic, and diplomatic influence in a world undergoing rapid transformations. Sánchez considered that Ibero-American summits go beyond being mere occasions for meetings and dialogue, as they express the Community’s values and bonds and work to translate these bonds into practical and tangible agreements and commitments. He added that the time has come to enhance the political, economic, and diplomatic presence of the Ibero-American Community at the international level, amid a phase in which international rules are being questioned and many countries are turning inward to protect their interests, viewing the world as a threat rather than an opportunity. In this context, Sánchez called for adopting an approach based on openness and building alliances, emphasizing the need to “plant peace in the face of those who fuel wars,” while affirming that international cooperation and cross-border partnerships are the way to address current challenges.

He clarified that Spain has worked for years to strengthen ties between Europe and Latin America and will continue to do so, noting that his country is always ready to open Europe’s doors to the countries of the region in cooperation with Portugal.

Earlier today, the Spanish monarch and Sánchez participated in the closing of the 16th Ibero-American Economic Forum in Madrid, where the King stressed the need to strengthen economic relations between Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries, as well as to consolidate ties between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean. He considered that the best response to the geopolitical fragmentation and trade tensions witnessed globally lies not in retreat and closure, but in adopting an open, rules-based economy and cooperation among partners. He pointed out that the renewal of European agreements with Chile and Mexico, and the EU-Mercosur agreement, reflects the importance of strengthening the partnership between the two sides.

He pointed to the region’s potential in the fields of energy, food security, biodiversity, and rare minerals, calling for enhanced investment and innovation and deeper cooperation to enable its countries to integrate more fully into global value chains, rather than limiting themselves to exporting raw materials. For his part, Sanchez urged at the Economic Forum that the summit serve as a catalyst for addressing international challenges, at a time when some powers disregard the rules of international law, emphasizing that spaces for dialogue and cooperation have become essential. He expressed hope that the summit would yield the formation of an Ibero-American alliance to tackle the challenges of artificial intelligence, confront technological shifts and climate change, and achieve just economic transitions.

A number of heads of state and government from member countries of the Ibero-American Community are participating in the summit in Madrid, led by Portuguese President Antonio José Seguro, Andorran Prime Minister Xavier Espot, and the presidents of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader; Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; Chile, José Antonio Kast; Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo; Honduras, Nasrasi Asfura; Paraguay, Santiago Peña; and Costa Rican President Laura Fernández. Three countries—Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela—are represented by vice presidents, while foreign ministers from the other member states attend. The two-day summit carries special symbolic significance, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the first summit held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1991.

Under the slogan “Ibero-America: We build our community together and chart its presence in the future and the world,” the general session of leaders will convene tomorrow, Thursday, presided over by King Felipe VI, with a primary focus on strengthening the Ibero-American cooperation framework and setting common priorities to address global transformations and changes, particularly in the areas of digital transition, science and technology, education, environmental protection, and disaster risk reduction.

The Ibero-American Summit brings together 22 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, encompassing a population of around 700 million. It serves as a periodic platform for political dialogue, coordination, and cooperation among member states and is held every two years. (End) H.N.D./H.S.S.