Spain and the Middle East: economic ties that outweigh Europe's

Spain and the Middle East: economic ties that matter more than they seem

Claiming that Spain has stronger cultural and economic ties with Algeria, Syria, Lebanon or Iran than with France or Italy sounds provocative. But historical data and trade flows paint a more complex picture. For centuries, Al-Andalus and the Spanish Empire wove links with the eastern Mediterranean that still shape exports, energy and demographics today.

From Al-Andalus to the legions: a thousand-year bridge

Spain's presence in the East did not begin with Sarracin. Roman legions raised in Hispania, such as Legio XIII Gemina and Legio I Adiutrix, were stationed in Dacia (present-day Romania). But the real turning point was the Umayyad conquest. Today, trade relations with Arab and Persian countries move billions: Spain is the second-largest European exporter to Algeria and the leading investor in the Persian Gulf in sectors such as infrastructure and energy.

The future weight: towards the East or towards Europe?

Three hundred years ago, Spain was the world's main economic and cultural powerhouse, and both Europe and the East borrowed from its model. After 1808, French and Anglo-Saxon influence prevailed. But the economic centre of gravity is shifting towards Asia and the Middle East. Spanish exports to the region are growing at 8% a year, while those to the EU are barely recovering. Economic diplomacy is seeking agreements with Iraq and Armenia, and demand for Algerian gas remains strategic.

The question is not whether Spain belongs more to the East than to Europe, but whether it has known how to use its heritage to diversify markets. If the trend holds, trade with the Middle East could overtake that of some EU partners within a decade. That said, European integration will remain the anchor. The debate is open.