A South American Brazil and a Europeised Spain: relations within the Ibero-American framework

This article analyses the relationship between Brazil and Spain, by considering the bilateral level, the Ibero-American Community and the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean interregional frameworks. Bilateral relations have been characterised by rapid development, as well as by continuity and pragmatism which is visible despite the ideological differences between the governments of both parties. However, Brazil’s growing leadership in South America and the Europeanisation process of Spain’s foreign policy have introduced new elements into the relationship, which weaken the Ibero-American commitment in Brazil, and point to an increase in policy coherence problems for Spain and the EU. Bearing in mind an eventually successful negotiation between EU and Mercosur, the article identifies strategies to strengthen the “strategic alliance” between Spain and Brazil.