Since March 2021, Spain has adopted a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP) approach as the sixth state worldwide. In the preface to Spain’s guide to Feminist Foreign Policy, Arancha González Laya, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, states that Spain’s “feminist foreign policy promotes and defends our interests as well as values of our society. […] Feminist Diplomacy contributes to a better, more just world, where women and men are equal in rights and opportunities. Nothing more. Nothing less.” To achieve these interests, Spain has presented five leading principles: a transformative approach, a committed leadership, ownership, inclusive participation and fostering alliances and intersectionality and diversity. Applying these principles across several priority areas, the Spanish approach connects various policy fields, for instance, trade, defence, climate action, economic justice, and human rights.

What is striking about Spain’s FFP approach is their commitment to multilateral cooperation. This also shows in the embedded instruments and modes of operation. Here, bilateral and regional diplomacy, the European Union, international cooperation for sustainable development and multilateral diplomacy are highlighted. Moreover, the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2023 Agenda are a crucial factor in Spain’s decision to adopt a FFP: “The decision to draw up a feminist foreign policy stems […] from a strong political commitment to push on in compliance with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).” (statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

As part of our Gender & International Politics’ project Feminist Foreign Policy(s): An On-Going Journey through Global Policies, we want to draw on these observations and discuss the focus of Spain’s FFP on multilateralism and an international approach to their FFP. Also, this is especially interesting as Spain took over the co-presidency of the FFP+ group in 2024. The ICRW FFP index has rated Spain’s FFP in the upper middle range in their overall ranking. Following this evaluation, we critically question, in how far this focus offers a divergent approach to FFP and whether this approach enables a more successful and sustainable implementation.

To address these questions, the event offers insights into Spain’s understanding of multilateralism and the way in which Spain’s foreign policy works multilaterally. Moreover, we debate why Spain’s FFP is not as visible in the public, academia and the media despite their orientation at the international level and at international fora and instruments. Bringing multilateral diplomacy to the forefront, we wonder why Spain’s FFP has not been noticed more prominently. Following, a critical lens is adopted evaluating whether Spain’s goal to advocate gender equality within the EU and on the international stage has been reached even though Spain’s FFP seems to be rather imperceptible.