Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC) is a department of the Government of Spain responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations, paying special attention to the ones in relation to the European Union and Ibero-America, as well as managing Spain's international cooperation for development policy. In these sense, it is responsible for promoting international economic, cultural and scientific relationships, taking part in the proposal and enforcement of the migration policy, promoting cross-border and interterritorial cooperation, protecting Spaniards abroad and preparing and negotiating the international treaties which Spain is part of.

The Foreign Ministry is the nationwide department that oversees the Foreign Action of the rest of government departments, the Spanish regions and other administrations, as well as overseeing the Foreign Action of the constitutional bodies. In this sense, from the Ministry depends the Spanish Foreign Service, the set of individuals, bodies and institutions with competence in foreign matters. As of 2026, the ministry maintains 218 diplomatic posts around the world, including 116 embassies and 91 consulates. This number does not includes the 73 cooperation units of the AECID (cooperation offices and cultural and training centers) and the 103 Instituto Cervantes centers around the world.

Established in 1714 with the creation of the first five specialized government departments —State, Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, War, Navy and the Indies, and Finance—, it is headed by the Foreign Minister, who is appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. The minister of foreign affairs is one of the most important offices of the Council of Ministers, ranking only behind the royal family, the prime minister, and deputy prime ministers, if any, in protocol. The current foreign minister is José Manuel Albares, former ambassador to France, who was appointed on 12 July 2021.