The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has stated that the upcoming Ibero-American Summit, scheduled for November 4 and 5 in Madrid, will represent "a great opportunity to look forward" and "make Ibero-America an even stronger, united, and present community in the world."
In an international scenario that he has described as "complex and tumultuous," Albares has emphasized that it is "more important than ever" for the Ibero-American space to reaffirm its shared principles, including multilateralism, peace, respect for international law, and cooperation, as well as its joint voice "as a bloc."
The Foreign Minister made these statements this Tuesday in Santander, during his speech at the summer course "Spain in the World 2026" at the International University Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), focused on the current geopolitical "complexity."
Albares has maintained that "we are going through the most important global crisis of this century" and has condemned the "unjustified" Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as the "very concerning" escalation of bombings and "absolutely unjustified" attacks by Iran against countries in the Middle East.
Regarding the Middle East, he has stressed that the situation in the area "directly affects" Spain and the Mediterranean, and has expressed "great concern" over the fact that "war is becoming the only way they have to relate."
He has also warned that the military tension around the Strait of Hormuz is "very concerning" and has argued that "it must be diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiation that reopen Hormuz and ensure there is a free, safe passage again."
In relation to Ukraine, the minister has lamented that the war "is dragging on" and has indicated that Spain will "support" Kiev "for as long as necessary" to ensure that "an unjust, illegal, aggressive war does not go unpunished," which implies continuing to provide political support, military equipment, and, increasingly, energy and electrical supplies.
"We must help Ukraine win the war but, above all, win the peace," Albares has emphasized, who has added that achieving democracy and peace in that country will largely shape "the security framework that Europe has on its eastern border."
The minister has warned that these conflicts constitute "growing threats" to democracy, as they "challenge" international norms, institutions, and the principles that have supported coexistence between states for decades.
In his opinion, at a time when the international order of the coming decades is being defined, each country must choose between continuing to defend and consolidate a system based on rules and dialogue, or accepting "the chaos of force and arbitrariness."
In this context, Albares considers it "more necessary than ever" to articulate a values policy "that has direction and meaning" and that has "long-term vision and global reach."
Ibero-American Summit and strengthening of multilateralism
In response to the "historical crossroads" that humanity is experiencing, the head of Spanish diplomacy has bet on a "stronger" and "more representative" multilateralism.
In this sense, he has explained that the Ministry is working to ensure that the Ibero-American Summit, which he has defined as "the great event of multilateralism in the 21st century," is "a success."
Among the topics to be addressed, he mentioned the creation of an Ibero-American cooperation mechanism in civil protection and disaster management, aimed at improving prevention and response to crises or environmental emergencies, such as the fires in the Iberian Peninsula or the earthquake in Venezuela.
He also indicated that issues such as promoting student mobility in the Ibero-American space, the development of artificial intelligence, and strengthening the care economy will be discussed.
Albares has explained that all these initiatives will be integrated into a "renewed" Ibero-American cooperation strategy for the coming years, which, in his opinion, "should not be limited to cooperating inwardly."
"We have to act as a block of countries capable of dialoguing, proposing, and defending shared positions," he emphasized, while highlighting that one of the purposes of the Madrid Summit is to "broaden" the ties of Ibero-America with other states and international organizations.
The minister added that, to talk about "effective" multilateralism in the 21st century, it is essential to reform institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and ensure the presence of women in that body. "We need the next mandate to be a woman," he demanded.
Finally, Albares has commented that, on the occasion of the World Cup, he has received congratulatory messages from foreign ministers from all continents, from almost all partners of the European Union, and from an immense majority of the foreign affairs officials of Latin America, who "were with Spain" in the final, something that, in his opinion, "says a lot about Spain, about the Spaniards, and about what we currently represent in the world".