Over the past several weeks, Spanish media coverage has largely centered on the former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is under scrutiny for alleged money laundering and alleged influence peddling, among other charges. By contrast, in the United States there has been scant coverage of this case, and it appears that Spain’s image in Washington, D.C. is trending upward in a positive direction.
A political and legal earthquake of Transatlantic proportions
To be clear, former Prime Minister Zapatero is innocent until proven guilty. As an American and as a columnist based in Washington, D.C., I have no opinion on this matter. I am not a lawyer. I am not for or against the PSOE, and I am not for or against the PP, or any other Spanish political party. Spain is an open and democratic society, and I am confident its legal system will handle this matter in a fair and impartial manner.
All that being said, this investigation has an interesting detail to it from an American perspective, which, as has recently been reported elsewhere, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assisted Spanish authorities in their investigation into former Prime Minister Zapatero. As Reuters reported in May, that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) aided Spanish National Police in an investigation which then led to the proceedings against Zapatero.
“It is good to see the deep bilateral relationship continuing to function at the working levels between the two countries”
According to former high-ranking Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer Kevin Hulbert, “Despite clear policy differences at the highest levels of government that have provoked some pointed back and forth over defense spending levels and the U.S. military engagement with Iran, it is good to see the deep bilateral relationship continuing to function at the working levels between the two countries [the U.S. and Spain] with information being shared between law enforcement and intelligence entities,” he told Agenda Pública, when asked about this matter.
“The U.S. is always concerned about international money laundering and so it is not surprising that the U.S. and Spain worked collaboratively in this recent instance to support a Spanish National Police investigation,” added Hulbert, who also served on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board during President Trump’s first term.
Former CIA Officer Bjorn Beam – who served on the Presidential Daily Briefing staff during President Trump’s first term in office – shared a different perspective with Agenda Pública, saying, “HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] has steadily expanded its global reach and its priorities have grown more politically driven under this [the Trump] administration.”
Beam, who is now Head of Tech and Geopolitical Research at Arcano Partners, went on to add, “Regardless of the merits of the underlying case, that pattern makes any decision to hand evidence to a foreign court worth additional scrutiny.”
Meanwhile, in Washington…
While the Zapatero investigation dominates news coverage in Spain, the country’s diplomatic efforts seem to be increasingly well-received in the U.S. capital. In May, Spanish Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau was invited by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) to speak on a panel at their North American Summit.
“Ambassador Bau made an excellent contribution to AFPI’s North American Summit in May,” America First Policy Institute Senior Fellow for Western Hemisphere Security and Maritime Affairs Rear Admiral (USCG, Ret.) Peter J. Brown told Agenda Pública.
“Her presence reinforced the importance and vitality of transatlantic relationships on the safety, security, stability, and prosperity”
“Her presence reinforced the importance and vitality of transatlantic relationships on the safety, security, stability, and prosperity of Western Hemisphere democracies, societies, and economies. As a panelist, she articulately discussed the enduring cultural, linguistic, familial, and commercial connections between Spain and Latin American nations, and the benefits those connections bring to Europe and the Americas,” Brown added.
“Her willingness to engage, despite some substantial policy differences between the Trump and Sanchez administrations, stands as testimony both to the importance of dialogue and diplomacy and to her personal leadership qualities,” said Brown, who served as Homeland Security Advisor in the first Trump administration.
Recently, Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau was invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the reopening of Columbus Circle in Washington, D.C. As we head into the FIFA World Cup – co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada – it can be expected that there will be greater public diplomacy efforts centered around promoting Spain’s participation in the tournament.
The road ahead
Whatever does or does not happen with the investigation into former Prime Minister Zapatero, it seems unlikely to have any notable impact on the U.S.-Spain relationship. The relationship between the United States and Spain is strong and longstanding.
Hopefully the World Cup will serve to only strengthen these longstanding ties between both countries. We may not be World Cup champions like our Spanish friends, but here in the United States, we love to watch a great game and have a good time with our friends. I for one hope we can talk more about soccer in the future, and less about this – excuse me, fútbol!
