Diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks reveal US views about Spain
EL PAÍS given secret cablegrams along with other news outlets
EL PAÍS, in collaboration with other news outlets in Europe and the United States, released late Sunday a long-awaited batch of secret cables from the US State Department that were provided by Wikileaks, the whistle-blowing website. Among the more than 250,000 messages, some 3,620 deal with Spain, including how US diplomats have viewed the Spanish government and its ministers since 2004.
The cables, which EL PAÍS will publish over the next few days, give details behind the most aggravating episodes between the United States and its Spanish ally. There is evidence of diplomatic friction between Washington and Madrid over a number of issues, including the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq, Madrid's links with Cuba and Venezuela, and Spain's relations with countries known to support terrorism.
The three US ambassadors during this period- George L. Argyros, Eduardo Aguirre and the incumbent Alan D. Solomont- sent cables to Washington concerning Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's Socialist government, with copies sometimes going to the CIA. Zapatero's 2004 election win generated a wave of cablegrams, in which US diplomats attributed his victory to the poor handling of the Madrid train bombings by the previous Popular Party government.
With the exception of King Juan Carlos, US officials are less than enthusiastic about their Spanish counterparts and some are described in unflattering terms. In one cable, advice is given on how to win the king's admiration.
Tu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo
¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción?
Si continúas leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podrá leer en el otro.
FlechaTu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PAÍS desde un dispositivo a la vez.
Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium, así podrás añadir otro usuario. Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS.
¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas.
En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí.
Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital.
Últimas noticias
Russell Tovey: ‘I was advised many times not to come out, I don’t think there was many people who’d done that — and I feel really proud that I’m one of those that did’
Patagonia’s puma population soars thanks to unexpected prey: penguins
Merz tries to replace Macron at the helm of Europe
Indulgence, punishment and family dynamics: Maintaining a healthy relationship with food during the holiday season
Most viewed
- The low-cost creative revolution: How technology is making art accessible to everyone
- Families demand repatriation of bodies of Colombians who died in Ukraine: ‘This war is a slaughterhouse for foreigners’
- Christian Louboutin: ‘Young people don’t want to be like their parents. And if their parents wear sneakers, they’re going to look for something else’
- US sanctions against jailed cartel leader ‘El Marro’ highlight Mexico’s lack of control over its prisons
- Liset Menéndez de la Prida, neuroscientist: ‘It’s not normal to constantly seek pleasure; it’s important to be bored, to be calm’
