El Salvador–Spain relations

El Salvador–Spain relations

El Salvador
Spain

El Salvador–Spain refers to the current and historical relations between El Salvador and Spain. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States.

History

Spanish colonization

In 1524, Spanish explorer and conquistador Pedro de Alvarado launched a campaign against the Pipil people, the native inhabitants of Cuzcatlán (present day El Salvador). By 1528, Spanish troops defeated the Pipil warriors and established a permanent presence in present day San Salvador.[1]

After the conquest, the territory of El Salvador officially became part of the Spanish Empire and governed from the Viceroyalty of New Spain in Mexico City and administered by the regional capital in Guatemala City. Under the Spanish Empire, the territory of El Salvador became an agricultural heartland of the captaincy general of Guatemala. Most of the land produced cocoa, coffee and indigo.[1]

Independence

In November 1811, independence movement leaders José Matías Delgado, a catholic priest, and his nephew, Manuel José Arce issued a call for independence from Spain. Due to the movement, several uprisings took place throughout the territory, which were quickly suppressed by the Spanish authorities.[1] In 1821, the call for independence was endorsed by officials in Guatemala, however, El Salvador was opposed to its territory being incorporated into the Mexican Empire under Emperor Agustín de Iturbide. Because of this issue, El Salvador was seeking to be annexed by the United States when in 1823, the Mexican Empire collapsed and El Salvador joined Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the joint United Provinces of Central America. The union was dissolved in 1839.[1]

Spanish King Juan Carlos I and Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero attending the Ibero-American Summit in San Salvador; 2008.

Post independence

On 24 June 1865, El Salvador and Spain established diplomatic relations and signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship.[2] Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, bilateral relations between both nations have been limited. In 1936, El Salvador, under General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, recognized the government of General Francisco Franco.[3] In 1977, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid an official visit to El Salvador.[4]

During the Salvadoran Civil War from 1979 – 1992, Spain paid an active role in trying to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). In November 1989, five Spanish priests were assassinated at the Central American University by Salvadoran soldiers.[5] In 1992, representatives of the Salvadoran government and the FMLN signed the Chapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico City and was presided by representatives of the Spanish government.[6]

In 2007, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid a second visit to El Salvador.[7] The King returned again in 2008, accompanied by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to attend the Ibero-American Summit being held in San Salvador. In 2010, Spanish airline Iberia launched direct flights from Madrid to San Salvador.[8]

Bilateral relations

Over the years, both El Salvador and Spain have signed numerous bilateral agreements and treaties such as: Treaty on consular protection (1953); Agreement on visa waiver for nationals of both nations (1959); Scientific and technical cooperation agreement (1988); Agreement on the promotion and protection of investments (1996); Extradition treaty (1997); Air transportation agreement (1997); and an Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (2008).[9]

Trade

In 2016, trade between El Salvador and Spain totaled $154 million USD.[9] Spain is El Salvador's eleventh biggest trading partner globally and sixth biggest foreign investor.[9] Spanish multinational companies such as Mapfre, Telefónica and Zara operate in El Salvador.

Diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Encyclopedia Britannica: El Salvador
  2. ↑ Establecimiento de Relaciones (in Spanish)
  3. ↑ America Latina y La Guerra Civil Española (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Los Reyes en América (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ España dice que no puede haber reconciliación en El Salvador si hay impunidad (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ Gobierno y guerrilla firman la paz en El Salvador tras 12 años de guerra civil (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ Los Reyes de España comienzan una visita de cinco días a El Salvador y Guatemala (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ Iberia anuncia vuelo directo San Salvador - Madrid (in Spanish)
  9. 1 2 3 Bilateral relations between El Salvador and Spain (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ Embassy of El Salvador in Madrid (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ Embassy of Spain in San Salvador in (in Spanish)
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