Spain and the United States have a long history of official relations and are now closely associated in many fields. This association has been cemented in recent years by the exchange of high-level visitors. In April 1997, King Juan Carlos was awarded the World Statesmen Award by the Appeal of conscience Foundation in New York, and in March 2000, he was given the Medal of Democracy by the Center for Democracy in Washington, DC. On January 11, 2001, the United States and Spain signed a Joint Declaration that lays out a roadmap for expanded cooperation in six areas: political consultation; defense; economics and finance; science and technology; culture and combating new threats and security.

In addition to U.S. and Spanish cooperation in NATO, defense and security relations between the two countries are regulated by a 1989 Agreement on Defense Cooperation, which is currently under review. Under this agreement, Spain authorized the United States to use certain facilities at Spanish military installations.

The two countries also cooperate in several other important areas. Under a 1964 agreement (currently being renegotiated), the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA) and the Spanish National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) jointly operate the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex in support of Earth orbital and solar system exploration missions. The Madrid Complex is one of the three-largest tracking and data acquisition complexes comprising NASA's Deep Space Network.

An agreement on cultural and educational cooperation was signed on June 7, 1989. A new element, supported by both the public and private sectors, gives a different dimension to the programs carried out by the joint committee for cultural and educational cooperation. These joint committee activities complement the binational Fulbright program for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting professors, which became the largest in the world in 1989. Besides assisting in these exchange endeavors, the U.S. Embassy also conducts a program of official visits between Spain and the United States.

Spain and the U.S. are strong allies in the War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with Spain committing forces and monetary aid to assist in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq. On several recent occasions, Aznar has met with President Bush to discuss cooperation on these and other issues.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid (tel. 34-1-587-2200; fax 34-1-587-2303). Consulate General, Barcelona, Paseo Reina Elisenda 23, Barcelona 08034 (tel. 34-3-280-2227; fax 34-3-205-5206).