Madrid y Cádiz, del 24 al 30 de mayo

Fundación Consejo España–EE. UU. has held a new edition of its “U.S. Hispanic Leaders” program, welcoming once again, as we did last year, a delegation from the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL).

NHCSL is the leading national association of Hispanic state legislators in the United States. Founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, it works to advance public policies that improve the quality of life of the Hispanic community and serves as the voice of more than 440 Hispanic state legislators across the country.

Throughout the program, legislators learned about Spain’s strong interest in strengthening ties with Hispanic communities in the United States. They also gained insight into the close cooperation between both countries in the fields of security and defence, as well as the importance of the Spanish language due to its economic value and its status as a language of global prestige. In addition, they discussed migration as a structural phenomenon in Spanish society and as a key factor shaping public policy.

The program began in Madrid with a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, where participants were welcomed by Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs. Discussions focused on Spain’s international outlook and the current geopolitical landscape.

The delegation then visited the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, where they met with Pilar Cancela, Secretary of State for Migration, to discuss challenges and opportunities in migration policy, as well as Spain’s approach to inclusion and integration.

That same day, NHCSL representatives attended a welcome lunch with members of the Fundación’s Board at Casa de América, which provided an opportunity to exchange views with leading figures from Spain’s business and institutional communities.

The day concluded with a visit to the Instituto Cervantes, where participants were welcomed by Carmen Noguero, Secretary General, to discuss the growing relevance of the Spanish language worldwide, its cultural and economic significance, and its role as a bridge between Spain and the United States.

The agenda continued on Tuesday with a meeting at the Ministry of Defence with Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, Secretary General for Defence Policy, who highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation and addressed issues related to international security, artificial intelligence and the defence of a rules-based international order.

The delegation later met with Guillermo López Gallego, Deputy Director General for Spanish Worldwide, to further explore the role of Spanish as one of the world’s most influential and widely spoken languages.

Participants also attended a working lunch with Erika Rodríguez Pinzón, Director of Fundación Carolina, which co-finances part of the program. Discussions focused on academic cooperation, youth leadership and relations between Spain, Latin America and Hispanic communities in the United States.

In the afternoon, the group visited Iberdrola’s headquarters, where they were welcomed by its CEO, Pedro Azagra, who presented the company’s international strategy, particularly in the United States, and its commitment to renewable energy. They also met with historical advisor José Manuel Guerrero to discuss the projects Iberdrola is promoting in the United States to highlight Spain’s contribution to American independence in the context of the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.

One of the highlights of the program took place on Wednesday at Palacio de Viana, where José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, awarded the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators the Plaque of Honour of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, in recognition of its work strengthening Hispanic leadership and building bridges between Spain and the United States.

Following the ceremony, the delegation held a meeting at the Embassy of the United States in Spain and Andorra with Ambassador Benjamín León Jr.

The second part of the program took place in Cádiz, where participants visited the Naval Base of Rota, one of the main strategic facilities for defence cooperation between Spain and the United States. There they gained first-hand insight into its operations, geopolitical relevance and contribution to security on NATO’s southern flank.

The day continued with a tour of the historic centre of Cádiz, with particular attention to sites connected to the Spanish Constitution of 1812, and concluded with an introduction to Andalusian culture through its gastronomy and traditions.

On the final day, the Hispanic leaders visited the Provincial Council of Cádiz, where they were welcomed by First Vice President Juancho Ortiz and learned more about the province and its main challenges.

They later travelled to the González Byass complex, accompanied by representatives from Iberdrola, where they learned about the company’s solar panel installation project and the impact of sustainability on production processes. The visit continued through the winery facilities alongside its President, Mauricio González-Gordon López de Carrizosa, who explained the company’s longstanding relationship with the United States since its founding.

To conclude the program, the delegation shared a lunch in Jerez with representatives from Iberdrola and González Byass, bringing to a close an edition that further strengthened mutual understanding, reinforced institutional ties and highlighted the role of the Hispanic community as one of the strongest bridges between Spain and the United States.

The program was made possible thanks to the funding and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and Fundación Carolina.