Spain’s global presence has increased in recent decades, but the country will require a new strategy for this to be sustainable.

Since Spain’s transition to democracy in the 1970s, the country has attempted to enhance its role in international affairs. Using data from the Elcano Global Presence Index, Iliana Olivié and Manuel Gracia assess how Spain’s international profile ranks relative to other countries. They note that Spain has increased its global presence ‘score’ substantially in recent decades, however much of this is based on ‘soft’ variables, such as tourism and cultural exports. As a result, Spain may require a new strategy to maintain its global position long-term.