The Spain–United States Forum, the main public-private dialogue meeting between the two countries, will hold its 28th edition on July 4 and 5 in Santander, a city that will host this international event for the first time. The Forum is organized by the Fundación Consejo España–EE.UU. and the United States–Spain Council. Over two days, leaders from the public, private, academic, and cultural sectors will discuss some of the main global challenges shared by Spain and the United States.

The discussions will focus on three key areas: energy, sustainable transport infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

This year’s Forum will be co-chaired by the heads of the organizing institutions: Josu Jon Imaz — President of the Fundación Consejo España–EE.UU. and CEO of Repsol — and U.S. Senator from New Mexico Ben Ray Luján, Honorary Chairman of the United States–Spain Council.

The event will also be attended by a delegation of U.S. Congress members and Senators.

The capital of Cantabria will host this prominent annual gathering for the first time. Over nearly three decades, the Forum has been held in cities such as Washington D.C., Miami, Santa Barbara, Seville, Barcelona, and Bilbao. The support of the regional and local governments will be reflected in the presence of authorities such as María José Sáenz de Buruaga, President of Cantabria, and Gema Igual, Mayor of Santander.

“This city, open to the sea and to the world, is a fitting symbol of the spirit of collaboration, dialogue, and opportunity that we aim to strengthen through this Forum. The Forum offers a valuable space to reinforce ties, share innovative ideas, and work together on some of the major global challenges. We are convinced that only through cooperation will we be able to successfully address the challenges ahead and build a more prosperous shared future.”

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

“This year’s Forum is an extraordinary opportunity to continue deepening a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. This dialogue is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen those ties further, foster new partnerships, and work together on global challenges that demand transatlantic commitment and cooperation. The United States and Spain have a key role to play together in facing the challenges ahead.”

Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Honorary Chairman of the United States–Spain Council

Among the more than 100 leaders participating in this year’s Forum are prominent voices from the public and private sectors of both countries. Representing the Government of Spain will be Diego Martínez Belío, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, and José Manuel Santano, Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility — both reflecting the institutional commitment to the strategic issues addressed by the Forum. The official delegation also includes Ángeles Moreno, Ambassador of Spain to the United States, and Rian Harris, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Spain, underscoring the diplomatic and bilateral dimension of the gathering.

The Forum will also feature prominent business leaders from both countries, such as Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of INDITEX; Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of ENAGÁS; and Juan Santamaría, CEO of ACS.

On the U.S. side, participants will include figures such as Darío Gil, Senior Vice President at IBM and Director of IBM Research, recently nominated by President Trump as Under Secretary for Science and Innovation at the U.S. Department of Energy; Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation; and Brad Carson, President of Americans for Responsible Innovation.

The discussion panels will be moderated by political analyst José Ignacio Torreblanca, Head of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Spain.

Three Strategic Pillars to Tackle Today’s Challenges

Energy Efficiency and Smart Infrastructure

The cleanest, cheapest, and most efficient energy is the energy that isn’t wasted. Based on this premise, the Forum will explore the central role that energy efficiency plays in modernizing power infrastructure, integrating renewable energy sources, and improving the economic and environmental performance of energy systems. In a context of increasing electrification of consumption, the sessions will focus on the need to develop advanced storage technologies, apply artificial intelligence to grid management, and establish regulatory frameworks that drive new efficiency standards without penalizing businesses or consumers. The discussions will also address how to foster public-private partnerships to finance this transformation and ensure that energy savings translate into greater competitiveness and social cohesion.

Resilient and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure

Congestion, aging systems, and underinvestment in transport infrastructure hinder sustainable mobility and economic development. Spain and the United States share the challenge of modernizing their transport networks—from roads to railways and logistics hubs—and of approaching this transformation holistically. The Forum will explore proposals to design more resilient, digitalized, and low-emission systems, and examine how emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, or blockchain—can be leveraged to optimize flows, reduce operating costs, and improve user experience. Public-private collaboration models to finance major transport investments will be discussed, as well as the social acceptance of key measures such as pay-per-use schemes and shared mobility solutions.

Artificial Intelligence: Innovation with Responsibility

AI has gone from being a futuristic promise to becoming a real driver of economic, social, and technological transformation. However, its development and adoption raise important challenges. The Forum will address both the opportunities it offers—in terms of competitiveness, efficiency, and value creation in sectors such as health, industry, transport, and education—and the risks it poses, from the need for massive capital investment to concerns about cybersecurity, regulation, sustainability, and digital equity. The discussions will also cover the uneven impact between large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises, the ethical dilemmas surrounding data use, and the role governments must play in shaping a common framework that ensures the responsible, inclusive, and accessible development of AI on both sides of the Atlantic.