Türkiye-Spain relations began with the signing of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce in 1782. Bilateral relations have took on a new dimension by the mid-1980s, as a result of Spain’s accession to NATO and the EU, as well as through the implementation by both countries of similar economic policies which give priority to liberalization and access to new markets. Bilateral political dialogue and economic relations have been strengthened with reciprocal high level visits realized since 1980s.

The then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Former Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero initiated the Alliance of Civilizations initiative in 2005 with the common understanding that only a broad coalition defending the mutual respect among different cultures could tackle the growing tendencies of alienation and polarization.

On the other hand, the first Türkiye-Spain Intergovernmental Summit was held on 5 April 2009 in Istanbul and the seventh one on 17 November 2021 in Ankara. Türkiye Spain relations were described as “Comprehensive Partnership” at the 7th Intergovernmental Summit.

Spain’s supports for Türkiye’s EU membership process further strengthened our cooperation.