The cold friendship: the Spanish foreign policy towards Italy (1957-1975)

Abstract

Ideological factor: The Franco’s dictatorship and its Fascist symbolism werethe obstacles to a closer bilateral cooperation, although there was always a friendly connection in the background, especially in the diplomatic and military spheres. Rome opted for the minimum political relation which could maintain normal economic and cultural ties. Using the Spanish diplomatic documentation, the aim of this article is to define the role of Italy in the Spanish Foreign Policy, the evolution of the bilateral relations, the main political actors and the different strategies adopted by the Spanish Governments to neutralize the political hostility of Italy.