José Manuel Albares Bueno was named Minister of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain on 10 July 2021.
Mr. Albares was born in 1972 and is a career diplomat. He holds a Degree in Law from Deusto University, specializing in Economics and Law, with a Diploma in Business Science. He also holds a Diploma in National Defence Studies from Spain’s Centre for National Defence Studies (CESEDEN), and a Diploma in Cultural Management Abroad from Carlos III University, in collaboration with Spain’s Diplomatic School. He founded and coordinated the Spanish think tank Círculo de Reflexión Internacional.
Before his appointment as Minister, he served as the Ambassador of Spain to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco.
He has been Secretary-General for International, European Union, G20 and Global Security Affairs at the Office of the President of the Government. In this capacity, he was the President of the Government’s Sherpa for both the European Union and the G20.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Albares has been Spanish Consul in Colombia, Counsellor for Culture at the Spanish Embassy in Paris, and held a post at the Spanish Permanent Representation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). During his posting at the OECD he was elected Vice-Chair of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, he has held different management positions, both in Foreign Affairs and at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
In Spain, he was named a Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and in Peru, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for Distinguished Service.