Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Ambassadors of Spain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Remove ads

Ambassadors of Spain are government officials appointed by the Spanish monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act as diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. These appointments do not require any type of confirmation by the Cortes Generales, although the Constitution prevents the government and, therefore, its representatives, from entering into certain international agreements without its authorization.[1]

Ambassadors report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and, depending on the matter or geographical area, also answer to the Ministry's secretaries of state or directors-general. They do not have a fixed term of office, serving at the pleasure of the government. However, it is an unwritten custom that diplomats serve for at least four years.[2][3]

According to the 2014 State Foreign Action and Service Act, article 44(4), "Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors, Permanent Representative Ambassadors, and Chargés d'Affaires shall be appointed from among officials of the Diplomatic Service in the manner determined by regulations, without prejudice to the Government, in the exercise of its discretionary power, being able to appoint as Ambassadors persons who do not belong to the Diplomatic Service".[4] Thus, in Spain there are two types of ambassadors: career diplomats and political appointees. As of August 2024, there are only five "political" ambassadors.[5]

Remove ads

Current ambassadors of Spain

Summarize
Perspective

This list is made up based on information provided by a public list compiled by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. Last update was made on September 24, 2025.[6] Also, the work "History of the Spanish Diplomacy" by diplomat and historian Miguel Ángel Ochoa Brun is used for historical data (until 2000).[7] The date of establishment is the date when the diplomatic relations were first established; it also shows, if there were previous relations, the year in which it was elevated to the rank of embassy.

  Political appointees, that is, they are not part of the diplomatic career.
More information Host country, List ...
Remove ads

Ambassadors to international organizations

Summarize
Perspective
  Political appointees, that is, they are not part of the diplomatic career.

Ambassadors to the United Nations

More information Host organization, List ...

Ambassadors to European organizations

More information Host organization, List ...

Other international organizations

Current Spanish ambassadors to other international organizations:

More information Host organization, List ...
Remove ads

Ambassadors-at-large

Summarize
Perspective

Current ambassadors-at-large from Spain, known in Spanish as Embajadores en Misión Especial (lit. 'Ambassadors in Special Mission' or Special Ambassadors), are the following:

More information Portfolio, Ambassador ...
Remove ads

Other officials with the rank of ambassador

More information Position, Ambassador ...
Remove ads

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The Embassy of Spain in Kabul was closed and transferred operations to Doha, Qatar (residence), and Islamabad, Pakistan (visas and consular affairs) following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.[8]
  2. [b]
    The first ambassador was appointed in 1950, with residence in Baghdad from 1950 to 1960, in Ankara from 1970 to 1974 and in Tehran from 1974 to 1979. After decades without diplomatic relations, they were reestablished in 2002.
  3. [c]
    Spain had a charge d'affairs in Albania from 1929 to 1939, and the ambassador to Italy assumed the representation during the Italian protectorate. Diplomatic relations were restablished in 1986, with the category of ambassador.
  4. [d]
    Spain kept diplomatic relations with the Regency of Algiers (since Barbarossa). Modern relations established in 1962, with the first ambassador.
  5. [e]
    Spain has kept relations with the Holy Roman Empire since the 15th century. Since 1802, Spain has maintained an ambassador in Vienna with hardly any interruptions.
  6. [f]
    Ambassador with residence in Moscow until 1998, and in Ankara since then.
  7. [g]
    Ambassador with residence in New Delhi until 2008.
  8. [h]
    Ambassador resident in Kingston until 2001 and in Port of Spain since 2007.
  9. [i]
    From 1989 to 1993, the ambassador to the Organization of American States was accredited to Belize. Since 1993, the ambassador to Guatemala serves as such.
  10. [j]
    The ambassador to Benin had its residence in Nigeria (1966–1968), Ivory Coast (1969–1989) and, since 1979, again in Nigeria.
  11. [k]
    Ambassador resident in Harare, Zimbabwe until 1988.
  12. [l]
    Diplomatic relations since 1910, with a lapsus between the abolition of the Bulgarian monarchy and 1977.[17]
  13. [m]
    Ambassador resident in Kinshasa until 1995.
  14. [n]
    Spain has maintained diplomatic relations with Imperial China since the late 16th century. Current diplomatic mission to the People's Republic of China was established in 1973.
  15. [o]
    Ambassador resident in Harare, Zimbabwe from 1984 to 1988, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 1989 to 1997 and, since then, in Pretoria, South Africa.
  16. [p]
    Ambassador residence relocated from Camberra to Wellington between 2008 and 2010.
  17. [q]
    The first ambassador was appointed in 1926, although it has not been a permanent position, having been a permanent since 1975.
  18. [r]
    Ambassador resident in Beirut until 1979, and from 1998 to 2002, and in Damascus from 1979 to 1998.
  19. [s]
    Czechoslovakia and Spain established diplomatic relations in 1919. The Second World War interrupted these relations, which were reestablished in 1977, with embassy status.[27]
  20. [t]
    Peter Martyr d'Anghiera was sent in 1501 with the title of ambassador to the sultan of Egypt. However, modern diplomatic relations were established in 1893. The diplomatic mission has the rank of embassy since 1949.
  21. [u]
    Ambassador resident in Helsinki until 2003.
  22. [v]
    Ambassador resident in Moscow until 2007. Ambassador-at-large for Georgia and the Caucasus states from 2008 to 2011. Ambassador resident in Sofia between 2011 and 2012 and Ambassador resident in Ankara since 2013.
  23. [w]
    Modern relations established after the German unification in 1871, however, Spain has mantained diplomatic relations with the Holy Roman Empire (1477–1806), the German independent states (such us Prussia, the German Confederation (1855–1866), the North German Confederation (1866–1869) and the following German states.
  24. [x]
    Ambassador with residence in Caracas until 2007 and in Port of Spain since then.
  25. [y]
    Hungary and Spain established diplomatic relations after Hungary's independence from Austria in 1920. Severed after World War II, they were reestablished in 1977 with embassy status.[42]
  26. [z]
    Spain maintained occasional contacts with Safavid Iran and its successors, even exchanging ambassadors. In 1842, a treaty of friendship and trade was signed, officially inaugurating diplomatic relations. In 1957, they were elevated to the rank of ambassador.[45]
  27. [aa]
    Spain recalled its ambassador on 8 September 2025.[48]
  28. [ab]
    Non-resident ambassador (Liberia) until 1968.
  29. [ac]
    From 1967 to 1977, the ambassador in Haiti was dually accredited to Jamaica. Since 1977, there is a ambasador resident.
  30. [ad]
    Ambassador resident in Moscow until 1999.
  31. [ae]
    Ambassador resident in Beirut from 1964 to 1972 and with residence in Kuwait City since 1972.
  32. [af]
    Ambassador resident in Maputo, Mozambique from 1982 to 1995 and, since 1996, in Pretoria, South Africa.
  33. [ag]
    Spain established a resident embassy in 1954, but closed it due to the First Liberian Civil War. Following the restablishment of relations in 1997, the ambassador to Ivory Coast assumed responsibility for Liberia–Spain relations.
  34. [ah]
    The Embassy of Spain in Tripoli suspended operations in 2014. Diplomatic personnel operate from the Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia.
  35. [ai]
    Spain established a consulate in Tripoli after signing a Peace Treaty with the Regency of Tripoli.[53]
  36. [aj]
    The head of Mission was resident in Amsterdam from 1891 to 1922, and in Brussels until 1970.
  37. [ak]
    Ambassador resident in Addis Ababa, Ethipoia from 1966 to 1968, in Nairobi, Kenia from 1969 to 1994, and in Pretoria, South Africa since 1994.
  38. [al]
    Ambassador resident in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 1982 to 1997 and, since then, in Pretoria, South Africa.
  39. [am]
    Ambassador resident in Moscow until 1995 and in Beijing since then.
  40. [an]
    Ambassador resident in Monrovia from 1965 to 1969 and in Abidjan from 1969 to 2007.
  41. [ao]
    The ambassador to China served as ambassador to North Korea until 2006.
  42. [ap]
    Ambassador resident in Stockholm from 1902 to 1907 and in Copenhagen from 1907 to 1919.
  43. [aq]
    Ambassador resident in Kuwait between 1973 and 1978 and in Abu Dhabi until 2008. Since then, the ambassador resides in the host country.
  44. [ar]
    Relations were interrupted in 1947, following the abdication of King Michael I, and re-established in 1977, with the status of embassy.[73]
  45. [as]
    Spain and Russia have maintained stable diplomatic relations since the 18th century. After the rupture during dictatorship of Francisco Franco, they were reestablished in 1977.
  46. [at]
    Resident in Luanda until 1995.
  47. [au]
    In 1953, the Ambassador to Egypt was dual accredited to Saudi Arabia and, since 1956, there is an independent Embassy in Riyadh.[59]
  48. [av]
    Ambassador resident in Vienna until 1998.
  49. [aw]
    Ambassador resident in Tokyo until 1973.[80]
  50. [ax]
    Ambassador resident in Caracas until 2010 and in Port of Spain since then.
  51. [ay]
    Spain closed it embassy in 2012.[82] In December 2024, the government appointed and special envoy to gradually re-establish diplomatic relations.[83][84]
  52. [az]
    Spain had some contact with the Kingdom of Siam between the 16th and 18th centuries, and these remained stable from the 1870s onwards, through the embassy in China (until 1949). In 1961, Spain elevated its legation to embassy.[87]
  53. [ba]
    The ambassador in Caracas served as such until 2006.
  54. [bb]
    Spain and Turkey —the Ottoman Empire— has kept diplomatic relations since the 16th century. The first Peace, Friendship and Trade treaty was signed in 1782 and, in 1951, modern relations were established.[90]
  55. [bc]
    Ambassador resident in Kuwait until 1973.[94]
  56. [bd]
    Modern relations were established in 1992. Historic relations dates back to the 15th century, when Ruy González de Clavijo was sent as ambassador of Castile to court of Timur.
  57. [be]
    Date of creation of the mission in one of the sides before the unification of the country.
Remove ads

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads
Remove ads