Current International Issues Study Guide

Topics:

  1. Spanish Relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. Its Historical Ties and Origins, Issue

    1. EU LAC Relations

      1. It is desirable that the relations are Bi-regional

        1. EU-CELAC

      2. And Bi-lateral

        1. International importance= G20 members: Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico

        2. Regional importance= Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay

      3. Potential initiatives

        1. EU-LAC trade and technology council

        2. VIP–MERCOSUR

    2. Difficulties

      1. Venezuelan crisis

      2. Nicaraguan political crisis

      3. Two types of reactions

        1. Strong criticism, even insults, from the governments concerned, via their leaders Nicolas Maduro and Daniel Ortega

        2. Accusations of complicity with authoritarian regimes, including with Cuba, for example in the US senate session when discussing the approval of the new US ambassador in Madrid

    3. Cancel and mexico

      1. Mexican president Andres Manual Lopez Obrado insisted in spain asking forgiveness for what he thinks as spanish crimes during the colonization of territories that are now mexico

      2. Despite their special nature, Spanish-mexican relations have resented this tension, motivated by internal political issues in Mexico more than the issue itself

    4. Economic relations

      1. Spain is the second country in the world invest in in latin america and the Caribbean (LAC) only behind the US (although some variations depend on the country)

      2. Main sectors: telecommunications, banking, energy, infrastructures, tourism, and business services

      3. LAC relevance for Spain’s economy has been decreasing since 19th century

    5. Trade partners

      1. 1st group: two main economies in LAC: Mexico and brazil

      2. 2nd group: Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, or Ecuador. Spain holds important commercial and investment relations and ecuador

      3. 3rf group: panama, guatemala, costa rica, uruguay, paraguay, el salvador, honduras, venezuela, and bolivia

  2. Gibraltar. Spanish Issues and UK Issues, Origins, Solutions, Present Situation

    1. What is Gibraltar

      1. British overseas territory and headland on Spain's south coast

      2. Known partially for the rock of Gibraltar; played a key role in WWII

      3. Gibraltar has played a crucial role in world politics due to its prime location at the entrance of the Mediterranean

    2. Brexit

      1. Exit of the UK from the EU on Jan 31 2020

      2. 2 years of negotiations starting in march 2017 with a failed vote to leace in 2019 under the british prime minister Theresa May

    3. UN perspective

      1. Decolonization

      2. Encourages UK-Spain bilateral negotiations

      3. Acknowledges the Gibraltan population

    4. UK perspective

      1. Geostrategic importance-naval base

      2. Economic and border patrol issues

      3. Maintaining gibraltars autonomy

      4. “An agreement might initially be uncomfortable in some areas. Just like signing up for membership of the EU might initially have felt uncomfortable in 1972. However, ‘no deal’ will also be very uncomfortable

    5. Spanish perspective

      1. From the spanish perspective, Brexit raised concerns and uncertainties regarding the future status of Gibraltar. Spain has long sought the return of Gibraltar to Spanish sovereignty, viewing it as a remnant of colonialism and an integral part of its territory

      2. In November 2018, Spain and the UK reached a bilateral agreement known as the “Gibraltar Protocol” which addressed some of the concerns raised by Spain regarding Gibraltar’s post-Brexit status. The protocol outlines principles for cooperation between Spain and the UK regarding Gibraltar-Spain border and cooperation on issues such as the environment, law enforcement, and tobacco smugglings

    6. How does Brexit affect Gibraltar?

      1. Borders and migration

        1. Before brexit, gibraltar had seamless movement of people/ goods to Spain due to their EU membership

        2. After brexit border controls produced barriers for migration and international trade

        3. Gibraltars government must work with spanish authorities to implement measures to streamline border crossing and continued economic integration

      2. Economy

        1. Gibraltar’s economy relies on sectors such as finance, online gaming, and tourism

        2. Brexit posed challenges that harmed future trade arrangements and access to EU markets for each of these sectors

      3. Sovereignty and political landscapes

        1. Brexit reignited discussion about gibraltars sovereignty with spain renewing its claim to the territory

        2. The gibraltar government and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to Gibraltars British sovieregnty

        3. Political dynamics were influenced by brexit opening debate about gibraltars future relationship with the UK and the EU

      4. Security and diplomatic relations

        1. Gibraltar location makes it a significant military and security with Gibraltar, Spain, and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism

  3. Spanish Relations with the Maghreb, Including Morocco; Issues, History Originating Close Ties, Present Situation

    1. Some facts

      1. Maghreb= countries of Northwest Africa →Mauritania, morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya; means land of the setting sun

      2. Until the end of WWII: Spanish foreign action concentrated in North-western Africa through a colonial policy geographically limited

      3. However→ Gibraltar and morocco were key in the acceptance of Spain in the international system in mid-XX century

      4. Spanish position defined by the Entente Cordiale (France-UK, 1904) about the Gibraltar straits

      5. Spanish colonial presence in Northern Morocco: French Spanish Treaty 1912

    2. Rhetorical of arab-spanish friendship during franco regime time (1940s-70s)

      1. Need to approach saudi arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan to seek support for Spain joining UN, and to support Spanish revendications over Gibraltar

      2. Two pillars

        1. Al andalus as myth of peaceful coexistence between Spaniards and Arabs

        2. Support for the non-recognition of Israel (Israel having opposed to the lifting up of Spanish isolation by UN in 1948)

      3. Spanish soft-power and Arab countries: fostering cultural relationships

      4. Support of the Palestinian cause

      5. 1956: Spain agrees to Moroccan independence from French and Spanish mandates

        1. Tarfaya 1958

        2. Sidi Ifni 1969

        3. Western Sahara→ 1976: Morocco and Mauritania management

      6. The Mediterranean represents one of the main political scenarios for Spain

        1. Historical reasons

          1. Colonialism

          2. Franco’s foreign policy, continued after the transition

        2. European Community

          1. Recognition of the state of Israel

          2. Madrid conference of 1991

      7. Spain's policy in the Middle East since 2001

        1. Profoundly marked by Spain-US relations during Aznar’s mandated (1996-2004)

          1. Creation in 2002 during Spain EU presidency of the “Quartet on the Middle East” (UN, US, EU, Russia)

        2. Political divide due to Spain’s military intervention in Iraq during the Second Gulf War

        3. Zapatero’s soft power related to the Mediterranean: United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) 2005, supported by Turkey

    3. Territorial disputes with Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla

      1. History

        1. In 1415, the portuguese captured the city of Ceuta

        2. In 1580 the portuguese throne was taken by the King of Spain Philip II

        3. The spanish would subsequently lose the portuguese throne in 1640 but in those 60 years of rule many spanish people relocated to Ceuta

        4. The portuguese ceded Ceuta to Spain in 1668 mainly because Ceuta had sided with Spain during the war that broke out between the two countries after 1640

        5. Melilla→ conquered by the Spanish in 1496

          1. Was-Ras treaty–end of hispano-moroccan war: ceuta and melilla stayed under the spanish crown and were enlarged

Spain joined european countries during the scramble for africa, trying to expand its colonies

Spanish impute disintegration in the XIXth century (Cuba, Philippines)

  • Spanish holdings in both the north and the south were expanded by three more treaties, madrid (1880) and algeciras (1906) and Fez (1912)

    • Rif war (1911–1927) between Spain and Berber population: Spain secured its colony over the Northern part of Morocco with france’s support

    • In 1956, after 43 years of spanish rule, morocco was granted independence but spain retained sovereignty over ceuta and mililla

    • All democratic governments in spain have defended spains’ sovereignty over these two territories

    • In 1995 both cities decided to become autonomous territories

    • In recent times morocco-spain relations have been friendly though intermittently discordant over this issue: ceuta and melilla are still claimed by morocco and sometimes cause bilateral tensions along with territorial waters disputes and the western sahara issue

    1. Western sahara

      1. 1965-1972, Un general assembly passes several resolutions requesting Spain to decolonize the territory and to organize and to organize a referendum on self-determination of the territory

      2. Saharawi nationalist to establish the frente popular para la liberación de saguia el hamra y río del oro in 1973

      3. A rebellion against the spanish colonial government happens

      4. Libya provided military assistance

      5. Green march orchestrated by King Hassan II in Nov 1975

      6. Madrid Accord (spain, morocco, and mauritania, Nov 14th 1975) to end the spanish presence in the territory of Spanish Sahara

      7. Agreement in conflict with international law, division of the territory between Morocco and Mauritania

      8. Political controverted in Spain

      9. Self determination referendum pending since 1976

    1. Policy key drivers

      1. Spain is a committed multilateral actor that plays the European card as a way of securing the financial and diplomatic resources that Spain alone cannot mobilize

      2. Whereas for the most EU countries, as well as for the major global powers, the Middle East may be the main priority in the Mediterranean, for Spain the Maghreb is and has been the number one priority and within the Maghreb, Morocco

    2. Present situation

      1. Reactivation of Spain morocco relations after march 2004

      2. Nowadays relations linked to

        1. Historical relations

        2. Economy

        3. Security

        4. Migrations

        5. Illegal trade

        6. Development aid

      3. Strengthening communication and political dialogue with all the countries of the region and holding political consultations and high level meetings with the maghreb countries, especially with morocco and algeria, though specific collaboration strategies with both

      4. Exercising an active presidency in 2021 of the 5+5 Western Mediterranean Dialogue

      5. Promoting the EUs Southern Neighborhood and the UFM

      6. Supporting UN efforts to reach political solutions in western sahara

    3. Unexpected turn

      1. March 2022–sanchez government turn from “active neutrality” on the western sahara conflict: letter sent to the king of morocco: “Spain considers the moroccan proposal of autonomy presented in 2007 as the most serious, credible, and realist basis for the resolution of the dispute”

      2. This “autonomy solution” is refused by both the Polisario Front and Argelia. Also, most of the parliamentary groups in the Spanish Cortes refused this

  1. Israel, Gaza Situation and Spanish Position. Present Situations and Implications

    1. Spain's call for the international ceasefire

    2. Spains relationship with Arab world

    3. The Spanish chief diplomat said the Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip may expand and “reach a mutual larger regional scope” stressing that Spain will continue to raise its voice against the killing of thousands of Palestinian civilians

    4. The country’s prime minister and chief diplomat stand behind the end of these horrific acts of violence and intend to send as much aid/statements to end the conflict

    5. International participation

      1. The country has been actively communicating with the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and other international forums to address the crisis

      2. Since 2015 meetings have been conducted with Spain’s presence to end the Gaza-Israel conflict

      3. Prime Minister Sanchez and spains chief of office are actively issuing public statements, supporting international initiatives, and engaging diplomatically

    6. Spains ongoing protests

    7. EU response to Gaza conflict

      1. Countries with support for Israel's right to defend itself

      2. Countries who have condemned israels actions and called for an immediate ceasefire

      3. Divisions within the EU over Israel's military operations

      4. Effectiveness of EU at risk

  2. Transnational Migrations: US/Mexico; Mediterranean/ Africa: Issues at Stake? Solutions? Implications for Countries and Nationalities Involved; Security Issues

    1. US/ MEXICO

    2. MEDITERRANEAN /AFRICA

      1. Root cause: large gap that exists between the EU and Africa; job opportunities, political instability, environmental degradation, violence

      2. 74% of african migrants are economic migrants

      3. 91% of immgirants have completed secondary school or above

      4. Mean age: 20-30 yrs

      5. Brain drain

    3. Geographical context: western african route

      1. The western african route connects western african countries with the canary islands

      2. This route is well known for it dangerous and harsh conditions, with risks such as desert, human trafficking, and exploitation by various criminal networks

      3. In 2022 more than two thirds of detected migrants using the western route were from morocco and other sub saharan countries

      4. The two spanish enclaves in morocco, melilla and ceuta, share the Eu only land broders with africa. Migrants from morocco and other african countries regularly try to cross into the spanish territories

      5. Melilla was conquered by the spanish in 1496

      6. Ceuta was taken from the portuguese in 1580

      7. Under the Tetouan treaty 1860, melilla and ceuta stayed under the spanish crown

      8. In 1956, morocco gained independence but spain maintained sovereignty over ceuta and melilla

    4. Current affairs morocco and spain

      1. Migration from constructive perspective,

      2. Frontex– european border and coast guard agency, operation indalo

      3. Team europe initiatives (december 2022)

      4. Africa focus 2023→ emphasize on cooperation, migration management, and combating human trafficking

      5. Valletta summit on migration

      6. EU emergency trust fund for africa→ support programs addressing poverty, governance issues, and insecurity

      7. New pact on migration and asylum

  3. Spain Relations and the Sahel

  4. Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso; Sahel= Arabic word for border; people are seminomadic

  5. Sahel and Spain

    1. Spain is very close to North Africa; Spain became a key place for peole from Sahel to come to Europe

      1. Secutiry is a major concern in the Sahel

      2. Politically Spain works with other countries and organizations to make Sahel more stable

        1. Sahel Alliance and G5

  6. Challenges in the regions

    1. Mass migration

    2. Youth and schooling

    3. Terrorism and arms trafficking

      1. Conflicts, weather, opportunities, political gain

      2. Since 2021: 6 coup attempts

      3. Markets: contraband goods

        1. Assault rifles and fake medicines

        2. Cash-cash relations

        3. Improving detection and interception

    4. Desertification

      1. Human impact

        1. Armed violence, overgrazing

        2. Climate change and deforestation

        3. 1984-85: hunger belt→ drought

  7. Spains relations tainted by western sahara

    1. Economic relations with morocoo and w. Sahara (45% of all exports to africa)

    2. Military material

      1. 2nd largest purchaser of spanish arms

      2. >$500 million to morocco/yr

    3. Energy:

      1. 85% of w sahara petroleum comes from CEPSA & REPSOL SIEMENS GAMESA had $2.8 billion deal and two wind farms

    4. Fish

      1. Largest exporter of fish > spain

      2. 75% of sardines and 95% of all squid from w sahara ($1.6 billion/yr)

    5. In 2012 the EU court of justice announced that deals with morocco could not include w sahara as it was not under their sovereignty

  8. Spains commitment in the Sahel region

    1. Youth employment

    2. Rural development

    3. Food security

    4. Energy and climate

    5. Governance

    6. Descentralization

    7. Access to basic services

    8. Security

    9. G5

      1. Burking faso

      2. Chad

      3. Mauritania

      4. Niger

      5. Mali-2022

    10. Democracy sustainable development

    11. Stability in the reion

    12. Combat terrorism

  9. The UN Institutions and Current Situation. Pros and Cons

    1. Origin

      1. Result of post WWII with a neoliberal way of thinking

      2. An attempt to build an international order based on rules and norms rather than solely force

      3. Substitute politics with law at international level

      4. Include general assembly that is not legally binding and security council which is legally binding and can veto power members

    2. UN Charter

      1. Constitutional characters: universal reach, search of common good (including peace, stability, & security), and recognition of principles now jus cogens (preparatory norms) including prohibition to use force, self defense etc.

      2. Principles:

        1. Sovereign equality for all members

        2. Fulfill obligations in good faith

        3. Settle international disputes by peaceful means

        4. Refrain in international relations from the threat/use of force against territorial integrity

        5. Refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the UN is taking preventative action

    3. UN System of Collective Security

      1. Attempt to stop aggressive/unlawful use of force through united action

      2. Located in articles 39-43 in Charter:

        1. Article 39: Security Council has power to determine the existence of any threat to peace or act of aggression and decide what measures to take to restore peace

        2. Article 40-41: coercive measures not involving use of military force including severance of diplomatic relations, interruption of communication,, ceasefire, etc. → puts pressure on State to stop certain behavior that are using military force

        3. Article 42: Coercive measures; included in case article 41 fails; authorization to member states to maintain and secure peace/security through military force (air strikes, naval, land operations, etc.)

        4. Article43: states required to sign agreement with UN to provide forces and facilities in order to allow it to intervene → NEVER APPLIED

    4. Limitations to Security Council

      1. Lack of SC control over operations

      2. Limited possibility of judicial review

      3. Big margin for states to pursue own interests

      4. Broad conception of peace & no clear definition of aggression/threat to peace

      5. Veto power reinforces discretionally

      6. No obligation to act for Security Council or execute a resolution

    5. Peacekeeping

      1. Characterized for non coercive nature

      2. Not against on party in the field

      3. Difficulties & Problems:

        1. Based on consent of parties involved

        2. Capacity of freezing and not solving conflicts

        3. Used in contexts where there is no peace to keep

        4. Often drawn into the conflict

    6. Present: UN Regional Info center for Western Europe

      1. United Nations Brussels Team (UNBT) established to bring forward impartial mandate and extensive country presence

      2. Work to support for UN system activities and global agendas within EU institutions and among the wider European public

      3. Priorities pertain to engage the UN with EU institutions and policies/legislation

    7. Problems w/ UNBT

      1. No collective police to enforce decisions → delegation to powerful state

      2. Capacity of solving crisis depends on interests and resources from powerful states

      3. Dependent on interests of strong states such as the U.S.

    8. Inaction w/ UNBT

      1. Massacre of Srebrenica (July 1995)

        1. UN peacekeeping officials unwilling to follow requests for support from own force within Srebrenica → Bosnian Serb forces overran region an carried out violence & abuse on civilians without interference from U.N soldiers

      2. Yugoslavian Wars

        1. June 1991: Croatia & Slovenia declare independence unilaterally → Serbia declares war on both → Slovenia recognized as independent → Sept. 1991 Macedonia declares itself independent without conflict

        2. 1991-2008: Yugoslavia fractured in nationalistic tensions and 5 secession wars

          1. Wars allowed for: exercise for international intervention after Cold War, improvement of methods to tear down regimes, military lessons among Western actors

      3. Russian-Ukraine (March 2 2023)

        1. Resolution for Immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine

        2. In favor: 141; Against: 5; Abstain: 35

      4. Gaza (November 22, 2023)

        1. Secretary General: welcomes agreement reached by Israel and Hamas with mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and US; UN will mobilize all capacities to support implementation of agreement

        2. UN called to allow humanitarian access, avoidance of collective punishment, & release of hostages

      5. Appeal for Occupied Palestine Territory

        1. $1.2 billion requirement for 2.7 million people in Gaza & west Bank

          1. Must have sufficient quantities of fuel for humanitarian operations

          2. Flow of assistance into Gaza must increase

          3. Funding must be timely and flexible to allow assistance to adapt to dynamic context

  1. NATO Future Role. Issues at Stake

    1. Nato members on a world stage

      1. 32 members

      2. Last members to join: north macedonia, finland, and sweden

        1. 40+ partners

        2. Several: mediterranean, peace

    2. Whos who

      1. Nato secretary general: Jens Stoltenberg

      2. Nato deputy secretary general: mircea geoana

      3. Nato spokesperson: farah dakhlallah

      4. Nato chair of the military committee: amiral rob bauer

      5. Nato director general of the international military staff: lieutenant general janusz adamczak

    3. Brief history formation

      1. Threatened by the strong communist position in eastern europe , the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg came together to form the Western Union in 1948

      2. The blockade of West Berlin and the Communist coup d’etat in Czechoslovakia exposed the need for a stronger alliance and led to the North Atlantic Treaty being signed by Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, the US, and Western Union countries in 1949

      3. The start of the Korean War in 1950 led rapid consolidation in NATO and the formation of an effective military strucutre with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe based in Rocquencourt and the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Dwight D Eisenhower

      4. The soviets respond with the formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955

      5. The guiding NATO principle, massive retaliation promised a nuclear response to any Soviet attack, setting up a status quo of mutually assured destruction

      6. The Suez Crisis iin 1956 demonstrating the influence of the US over NATO and the height of nuclear tensios

    4. COLD WAR

      1. Cold war tensions peaked during the Cuban Missile Crisis leading to the adoption of a flexible response policy that would giver NATO the option to respons to a military attack without using nuclear weapons

      2. In 1966 Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO integrated military command structure due to complaints over American influence and sovereignty resulting in NATO HQ being moved to Brussels

      3. The conference on Security and co-operation in europe is formed in 1973, leading to increased dialogue between western and eastern european states

      4. The increased dialogue culminated in the Helsinki Final Act, an agreement between NATO and the members of the Warsaw pact to respect the fundamental freedom of their citizens in 1975

      5. The United States and the Soviet Union signed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987, eliminating all nuclear missiles with the intemediate ranges, signalling the beginning of the end of the Cold War

    5. Post Cold War

      1. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 90s posed an existential crisis for NATO

      2. The shape of NATO begins to change and encompasses conflicts and relationship in the European Periphery

      3. The military involvement of NATO in the Yugoslav Wars and Kosovo demonstrated the expanded scope

      4. The septa,ber 11 attacks on the world trade centre led to the first ever invocation of article 5, multiple NATO members contributed troops–further proof of the shift away from a purely european theatre

    6. NATO response to 9/11

      1. In response to the terrorist attacks, 24 hours later, NATO invoked article 5 for the first time in its history

      2. NATO forced soon entered afghanistan with the mission to dismantle Al Qaeda and prevent afghanistan as a base to plan further terrorist attacks that would harm world peace

      3. Article 5

        1. All participating member agreed upon joining the treaty that article 5 which focus on the collective defence is a key component of the alliance

        2. An attack on one member is an attack on all members

        3. All actions taken in an armed force attack must be reported to and approved by the security council

    7. NATO and Russia

      1. Relations began shortly after the conclusion of the cold war, NATO had constructive dialogue on securtiy issues with Russia through the NATO-Rusia Council (NRC)

      2. NATO military co-operation with Russia has been suspendin since 2014 in response to Russias military intervention in Ukraine and its illegal annexation of crimea

      3. Why russia hasnt joined NATO

        1. Secrecy over nuclear weapons

        2. Russias global ambitions

        3. Relationship with china

    8. Nato and trump

      1. Before inauguration he criticized europe’s nato member of not paying their legally agreed upon 2% of GDP

      2. Threatened that a NATO member under attack would not be helped by US armed forces unless that country met its 2% GDP obligations

      3. Trump felt that the US involvement in NATO was a waste of taxpayers money as it went against his administrations “America First” agenda

    9. NATO and Spain

      1. Spain became NATOs 16th member on may 30 1982

      2. Spain joined the integrated military structure in 1999 and remains trustworthy and reliable member, committed to the atlantic alliance and to the values it represents

      3. The Combines Air Operations Centre Torrejon controls NATO airspace in the southern half of europe

      4. NATO contributes a whole range of military capabilities to the Allience, including the Command and Control entities, the NATO rapid Deployable Corps

      5. The counter-improvised explosive devices center of excellence located in madrid and the tactical leaderhip programme for allied fighter aircraft crew members based in Albacete

      6. Spain also makes a notable contribution to NATOs ballistic Missile Defense System, with four ES Aegis destroyers based at the Naval Station Rota

  2. The EU: Spain’s Role, Participation, EU Main Institutions, Origins, Issues (Ukraine War, Gaza and Israel, Gibraltar, Englargenment, Etc.)

Previous Exam Questions

  1. Do you think that the EU has properly addressed climate change? Why or why not

  2. As the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict remains unclear, Spain's geopolitical relations with the Middle East could change rapidly

  3. What is the future of trade relations as Spain moves closer to Green Energy?

  4. How does Spain’s recent agreement with Morocco over the jurisdiction of the Western Sahara impact Spain’s relationship with the larger Arab world?

  5. Do you feel the relationship during the Franco regime with Arab countries was because of convenience or a shred stance on strict theocratic ideology?