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Spain is charting a markedly separate direction from numerous developed states when it comes to migration policies and relations toward the African continent.

Although countries like the USA, Britain, France and Germany are reducing their foreign assistance funding, Spain continues dedicated to enhancing its engagement, even from a modest foundation.

Recent Developments

Recently, the capital city has been hosting an continent-endorsed "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". The Madrid African conference will discuss reparative equity and the formation of a new development fund.

This represents the most recent sign of how the Spanish administration is attempting to strengthen and diversify its engagement with the mainland that rests only a brief span to the south, across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Strategic Framework

In July External Affairs Minister Madrid's top envoy launched a recent guidance panel of renowned scholarly, foreign service and heritage experts, over 50 percent of them African, to monitor the implementation of the detailed Spanish-African initiative that his administration released at the end of last year.

Additional diplomatic missions south of the Sahara, and partnerships in commerce and education are arranged.

Migration Management

The distinction between Spain's approach and that of others in the West is not just in expenditure but in attitude and philosophy – and particularly evident than in addressing migration.

Comparable with different EU nations, Government Leader the Spanish premier is looking for ways to contain the arrival of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the immigration situation is not only a question of moral principles, mutual support and dignity, but also one of reason," the government leader said.

More than 45,000 persons attempted the hazardous maritime passage from West African coastline to the overseas region of the Canaries last year. Calculations of those who lost their lives while undertaking the journey vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Effective Measures

The Spanish administration needs to shelter recent entrants, process their claims and oversee their integration into broader community, whether temporary or more long-lasting.

Nevertheless, in rhetoric distinctly separate from the confrontational statements that comes from several Western administrations, the Madrid leadership publicly recognizes the challenging monetary conditions on the ground in the West African region that compel individuals to endanger themselves in the attempt to attain Europe.

Additionally, it strives to move beyond simply refusing entry to incoming migrants. Conversely, it is designing original solutions, with a commitment to promote human mobility that are protected, orderly and routine and "jointly profitable".

Commercial Cooperation

On his trip to the West African nation last year, Sanchez stressed the participation that foreign workers make to the Spanish economy.

Madrid's administration finances skill development initiatives for jobless young people in states like the West African country, especially for irregular migrants who have been returned, to assist them in creating viable new livelihoods in their native country.

Additionally, it enlarged a "cyclical relocation" initiative that provides persons from the region short-term visas to arrive in the Iberian nation for restricted durations of periodic labor, mainly in agriculture, and then go back.

Geopolitical Relevance

The core principle underlying the Spanish approach is that the Iberian nation, as the EU member state closest to the mainland, has an essential self interest in the continent's advancement toward equitable and enduring progress, and stability and safety.

That basic rationale might seem apparent.

Nevertheless previous eras had guided the Iberian state down a distinctly separate route.

Other than a limited Mediterranean outposts and a small tropical outpost – presently autonomous the Gulf of Guinea country – its imperial growth in the 16th and 17th Centuries had mostly been oriented overseas.

Forward Vision

The cultural dimension encompasses not only advancement of Castilian, with an increased footprint of the Spanish cultural organization, but also schemes to assist the transfer of academic teachers and investigators.

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, female advancement and an increased international engagement are expected elements in the current climate.

Nevertheless, the strategy also lays very public stress it allocates for backing democratic principles, the continental organization and, in specific, the regional West African group Ecowas.

This constitutes positive official support for the latter, which is presently facing significant challenges after witnessing its half-century celebration tainted by the withdrawal of the Sahel nations – the Sahel country, Mali and the Nigerien Republic – whose ruling military juntas have chosen not to follow with its protocol on democracy and effective leadership.

Concurrently, in a communication targeted as much at Madrid's domestic audience as its African collaborators, the international relations office said "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and anti-foreigner sentiment are also essential focuses".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a initial phase. But in contemporary pessimistic worldwide environment such language really does distinguish itself.