Spain´s Foreign Policy towards Central Asia (2000-2011)

Abstract

Although Spanish relationship with Central Asian countries started some centuries ago, the collapse of the Soviet Union a window of opportunities to deepen such relations. Spain developed a Foreign Policy oriented towards these countries, albeit it focused on the two biggest ones (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) almost exclusively. The Spanish Governments have enlarged and deepened the cooperation with those actors, among all in security and energy issues. Nevertheless, the Spanish presence in the area is very tiny and limited, in spite of the good relationship between the King Juan Carlos I and the respective Presidents of the Central Asian Republics.