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Following the Franco years (p.), Spain has improved its diplomatic relations with the west, joining NATO in 1982 and the European Community (now European Union) in 1986. The establishment of ambassadorial level diplomatic relations with North Korea in 2001 shows that Spain is certainly filling her diplomatic address book.

Spain’s relationships with other EU countries are excellent. On global affairs her stance is generally aligned with Europe’s. The only sore spot is the ongoing dialogue with Britain over Gibraltar’s sovereignty, which has been an issue since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. A fledgling allegiance with the United States cooled off when Prime Minister Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq. Particularly solid for the moment is the understanding with Latin America’s socialist countries. Relations with Venezuela, sour during the Aznar administration, are improving under Zapatero, who in 2006 also became the first European premier to receive a visit from Bolivia’s Evo Morales.

Spread across the city are consulates for the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada (See p.). Barcelona has many sister cities, including Boston (USA), Glasgow (Scotland), Dublin (Ireland), Montreal (Canada), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Tel Aviv (Israel) and Montpellier (France).