Wikipedia

Colombia–Spain relations

Bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Colombia were formally established in 1881, several decades after Colombia's independence from the Spanish Empire. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States, United Nations, and the World Trade Organization.

Colombia–Spain relations
Map indicating locations of Colombia and Spain

Colombia
Spain
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Colombia, MadridEmbassy of Spain, Bogota

History

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Colonial times

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The territory that became Colombia was first visited by Europeans when the first expedition of Alonso de Ojeda arrived at the Cabo de la Vela in 1499. The Spanish made several attempts to settle along the north coast of today's Colombia in the early 16th century, but their first permanent settlement, at Santa Marta, was not established until 1525. Cartagena was founded on June 1, 1533, by Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia, and grew rapidly, fueled first by the gold in the tombs of the Sinú culture, and later by trade.

The Spanish advance from inland from the Caribbean coast began independently from three different directions, under Jimenéz de Quesáda, Sebastián de Belalcázar and Nikolaus Federmann. Although all three were drawn by the Indian treasures, none intended to reach Muisca territory, where they finally met.[1] In August 1538 Quesáda founded Santa Fe de Bogotá on the site of Muisca village of Bacatá.

In 1549, the Spanish Royal Audiencia made Bogotá the capital of New Granada, which comprised in large part what is now territory of Colombia. In 1717, the Viceroyalty of New Granada was originally created, with Santa Fé de Bogotá as its capital. This Viceroyalty included some other provinces of northwestern South America which had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalties of New Spain or Peru and correspond mainly to today's Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. Bogotá thus became one of the principal administrative centers of the Spanish possessions in the New World.

Independence

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The battle of Boyacá was the decisive battle which would ensure the success of the liberation campaign of New Granada.

A movement initiated by Antonio Nariño, who opposed Spain's centralism and led the opposition against the viceroyalty, leading to the independence of Cartagena in November 1811, and the formation of two independent governments which fought a civil war – a period known as La Patria Boba. The following year Nariño proclaimed the United Provinces of New Granada, headed by Camilo Torres Tenorio. Despite the successes of the rebellion, the emergence of two distinct ideological currents among the liberators (federalism and centralism) gave rise to an internal clash which contributed to the reconquest of territory by the Spanish. The viceroyalty was restored under the command of Juan de Samano, whose regime punished those who participated in the uprisings. Renewed rebellion, combined with a weakened Spain, made possible a successful rebellion led by the Venezuelan-born Simón Bolívar, who finally proclaimed independence in 1819. The pro-Spanish resistance was finally defeated in 1822 in the present territory of Colombia and in 1823 in Venezuela.

The territory of the Viceroyalty of New Granada became the Republic of Colombia organized as a union of Ecuador, Colombia (including modern-day Panama) and Venezuela. The Congress of Cúcuta in 1821 adopted a constitution for the new Republic, and Simón Bolívar became the first President of Colombia. However, the new republic was unstable and ended with the rupture of Venezuela in 1829 and Ecuador in 1830.

Post-independence

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Colombia and Spain officially established diplomatic relations in 1881 when representatives of both nations signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship in Paris.[2] During the years, relations between the two nations decreased as Spain lost its importance in the region, especially after its defeat in the Spanish–American War and Spain's influence in the region diminished.[2]

During the Spanish Civil War, many in Colombia supported the Nationalist faction led by General Francisco Franco against the Republican faction.[3] During this time, some Spaniards immigrated to Colombia to flee the war. However, they were not large in number relative to the Spanish immigration to Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay during the same period. After the war, Colombia maintained diplomatic relations with the Spanish government under General Franco.[3]

In October 1976, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid an official visit to Colombia, his first as King of Spain.[4] Since then, the Spanish royal family has paid several visits to Colombia and several Colombian presidents have paid official visits to Spain.

Over the years, both nations have signed agreements and treaties on judicial cooperation, dual nationality, extradition, social security, guarantee of intellectual property, promotion and protection of investments, tourism, avoidance of double taxation and agreement for resident citizens of both nations to vote in local municipal elections.[5]

High-level visits

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogotá; 2022.

Presidential visits from Colombia to Spain[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]


Royal and Prime Ministerial visits from Spain to Colombia[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]


Transportation

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There are direct flights between both nations with Air Europa, Avianca and Iberia.

Trade

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In 2025, total trade between Colombia and Spain totaled €1.5 billion Euros.[25] Colombia's main exports to Spain include: fish, fruits and vegetables, coffee, sugar, cacao, oil, iron and minerals. Spain's main exports to Colombia include: machinery, electrical equipment, pharmaceutical products and organic chemicals. Spanish multinational companies such as Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Banco Santander, Mapfre, Telefónica and Zara operate in Colombia. In 2011, Colombia signed a free trade agreement with the European Union (which includes Spain).[26]

Resident diplomatic missions

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Lonely Planet, "History of Colombia", http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/history. Accessed 6 May 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Las relaciones bilaterales Colombia-España (in Spanish)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  3. 1 2 Trazos y trozos sobre el uso y abuso de la Guerra Civil Española en Colombia (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Los Reyes de España viajan hoy a Colombia (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ Instrumentos y Acuerdos suscritos entre Colombia y España (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ El presidente de Colombia inició ayer su visita oficial a España (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ Virgilio Barco Vargas: Cronología Presidencia (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ Visita del Presidente de la República de Colombia, señor don César Gaviria Trujillo (in Spanish)
  9. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente Pastrana a España (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ Encuentro con El Exmo. Sr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ Presidente Uribe en la VI Cumbre de América Latina y el Caribe (in Spanish)
  12. ↑ El presidente de Colombia visita España (in Spanish)
  13. ↑ Visita presidente de Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, a España (in Spanish)
  14. ↑ Mariano Rajoy recibe al presidente de Colombia (in Spanish)
  15. ↑ Visita oficial a España del Presidente Duque (in Spanish)
  16. ↑ Presidente Petro inicia visita de Estado a España, que incluye temas como la Paz Total, transición energética y turismo sostenible (in Spanish)
  17. ↑ Presidente Petro viaja a España y Francia para impulsar agenda global de desarrollo y cooperación (in Spanish)
  18. ↑ Adolfo Suárez elogia los procesos de unificación en Latinoamérica (in Spanish)
  19. ↑ Calvo Sotelo viaja mañana a Ecuador, Colombia y Perú (in Spanish)
  20. ↑ Ficha País Colombia: Relaciones Bilaterales con España (in Spanish)
  21. ↑ Aznar concluye en Colombia sus viajes al extranjero como presidente del Gobierno (in Spanish)
  22. ↑ Rodríguez Zapatero Comenzó Visita Oficial a Colombia (in Spanish)
  23. ↑ “Apostar por Colombia y los colombianos es de lo más bonito que he hecho en estos cuatro años de Gobierno”: Presidente del Gobierno español Mariano Rajoy (in Spanish)
  24. ↑ Sánchez llega a Colombia para la cumbre UE-CELAC que cree es fundamental en este momento (in Spanish)
  25. ↑ MAEC: Colombia (in Spanish-page 7)
  26. ↑ EU signs trade deals with Peru and Colombia
  27. ↑ Embassy of Colombia in Madrid
  28. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Madrid
  29. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Barcelona
  30. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Bilbao
  31. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Las Palmas
  32. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Palma
  33. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Seville
  34. ↑ Consulate-General of Colombia in Valencia
  35. ↑ Embassy of Spain in Bogotá
  36. ↑ Consulate-General of Spain in Bogotá
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