Yesterday, the Fundación Consejo España – EE. UU. welcomed the new United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Benjamín León Jr., at a meeting held at the Hotel Palace in Madrid, attended by the Foundation’s board members and representatives of the Spanish government. The event served as both an official welcome and the first opportunity to strengthen dialogue between the Fundación’s Board of Trustees and the new head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Spain.

The President of the Fundación, Josu Jon Imaz, welcomed the Ambassador with remarks highlighting the deep historical ties between Spain and the United States, noting that the connections between the two countries date back to the very founding of the United States, in which Spain played a key role. In his speech, he also emphasized the shared values that have guided the bilateral relationship over time—such as democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights—and the importance of continuing to strengthen these bonds in an increasingly complex international context.

Ambassador, I encourage you to take this opportunity to get to know the companies and institutions that are part of the Fundación. I also invite you, during your time in our country, to get to know us and discover that we are a highly plural and diverse nation, with a friendship that has united us with yours since its founding.

Josu Jon Imaz, President of the Fundación Consejo España – EE. UU.

Also speaking at the meeting were the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío; the Secretary of State for Commerce, Amparo López Senovilla; and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who welcomed the Ambassador to the city. The Mayor highlighted the deep historical ties between Madrid and the Americas, visible even in the city’s street names, and emphasized its open and international character, noting that many U.S. ambassadors have ended up purchasing a home in Madrid after completing their diplomatic mission.

For his part, Ambassador Benjamín León Jr. thanked the Fundación for its work, which he described as ‘essential for strengthening relations between Spain and the United States,’ and expressed his gratitude to Spain and the Spanish people for the warm welcome he has received since his arrival. He also recalled the personal ties that connect him to Spain, as both he and his wife come from families originally from the Canary Islands—a link that, he noted, deepens his closeness to the country.

“We continue to remember with gratitude the support and commitment that Spain offered during the founding of our nation.

Today, the Fundación Consejo España–EE. UU. is carrying out important work to bring these stories to light and ensure that this shared history receives the attention it deserves. These initiatives serve as a powerful reminder of our shared past“

Benjamín León Jr., Ambassador of the USA to Spain and Andorra