A year at Spanish diplomatic academy: Cooperation and global connections

A year at Spanish diplomatic academy: Cooperation and global connections

Finnish diplomat Rasmus Salminen participated in a further training programme for diplomats, organised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The year-long training opened doors to global connections and provided fresh insights into international relations.

The Escuela Diplomática de España institute, which operates in connection with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been training Spanish diplomats for more than 80 years. The institute also provides further training opportunities for diplomats at different points in their careers.

Since 2005, the diplomatic academy has been offering a Master's programme in diplomacy and international relations (Máster de Diplomacia y Relaciones Internacionales) in cooperation with the Complutense University of Madrid. The degree has been designed specifically for foreign diplomats. Most of the foreign students come from Latin American and African countries.

"My particular favourites were lessons dealing with international relations, history and diplomacy," Salminen says.

The programme also included advanced studies in security and defence policy, which were organised in cooperation with the Spanish national defence university.

Salminen discovered new perspectives into world politics during his stay.

"The perspective was Spanish, and they raised themes that are not commonly explored in Finnish research on international relations. We had an excellent opportunity to establish strong cross-cutting contacts with, among others, diplomats from countries of the Global South. All students shared the same enthusiasm for the Spanish-speaking world; all lessons and discussions were held in Spanish," Salminen says.

Spain is a window into Latin America

Salminen says that the highlights of the academy for him were the well-planned visits to interesting destinations, such as the Spanish Parliament, Instituto Cervantes and the Constitutional Court of Spain.

"In Spain, there's a strong emphasis on diplomats deepening their knowledge of their own nation and society. This is something that we could impress more strongly on young Finnish diplomats," Salminen says.

The southern Europeans wanted to learn about Finland, and Salminen says he answered questions ranging from Finland's NATO membership to the rights of the Sámi people. The Spanish people were also interested in the Finnish national flower, lily of the valley.

Salminen was the first Finn to attend the training. What were your takeaways from the year?

"Spain has an important role as a window into Latin America. I understood more clearly how important it is to deepen political, economic and cultural relations with the Spanish-speaking world in the current unstable global situation," Salminen says.