Spanish and Russian approaches to European security: a comparative study

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is describing the ideas that have influenced current Russian and Spanish relations with the European Union (EU), determining the extent to which it has been perceived as a security issue, and explaining the contents of those perceptions. This is achieved by applying textual analysis to some of the main official statements by the top foreign and security policy decision-makers in both countries, Vladimir Putin and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. After studying Spain and Russia’s identification with Europe, their foreign policy interests for relations with the EU, and the security component of those interests, I use Buzan’s concept of security sectors in order to explain where Europe has been located by both countries in the continuum “source of threat – provider of security”.