Basque Country expands global footprint with permanent delegation in Washington, D.C.

• The President of the Basque Government expresses his concerns to members of both the Democratic and Republican parties regarding the impact of the Trump administration's policies on the Basque economy.

• The Washington delegation will mark the seventh representative office of the Basque Country worldwide.

The President Imanol Pradales has announced the establishment of a new, permanent Basque delegation in Washington, D.C., marking a significant step in the Basque Country's strategy to amplify its influence and forge stronger ties with the United States. The decision to establish this new headquarters in Washington reflects the President and his Government’s strategic ambition to cultivate new alliances, deepening the Basque Country’s relationship with the United States. This initiative aims to foster robust political, economic, business, and social connections, advancing shared interests.

As he emphasised during the presentation of the Euskadi Global strategy on 21 January in Pasaia, the Basque Country must secure a seat at the tables where decisions shaping its future are made, ensuring its voice is heard and its interests represented on the global stage. "Because to participate in global affairs, one must be present where the rules are established," he asserted then, a point he reiterated today.

In this regard, Imanol Pradales stressed that the Basque Country cannot afford to be passive in the face of global events. It is crucial, he highlighted, to have "antennae" and reliable interlocutors to build alliances that ensure Basque businesses and society have a voice on the international stage.

Washington's Importance

The Basque community in Washington D.C. is distinguished by a significant number of young professionals from the Basque Country, many of whom, after taking part in the Basque Government’s BEINT internationalisation scholarship programme, secure positions in prominent multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The community also boasts a number of senior professionals with extensive experience in international institutions and national organisations, including NASA and the Federal Reserve.

Alongside these high-value economic and business profiles in the US capital, Washington also serves as the nation’s foremost political hub for decision-making, being the seat of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Imanol Pradales made this announcement following separate meetings with Democratic congressmen Joaquín Castro and John Garamendi, as well as Republican congressman James E. Risch, during which they exchanged perspectives on the new policies of Donald Trump upon his return to the White House and their substantial impact on the Basque economy.

Together with them, the President has assessed the current state of ongoing debates and decisions that will shape the future of crucial sectors for the Basque Country, including tariff policy, trade regulations, energy laws, and their impact on strategic industries such as aeronautics and automotive, among others.

In this regard, he conveyed to them that any trade barrier imposed by Washington significantly affects industry and trade in the Basque Country, considering that 8% of the Basque Country's exports are directed to the US market, which ranks as the third largest foreign market after France and Germany. Regarding semi-manufactured products like aluminium and steel, Pradales reminded them that they account for 1.3% of exports to the United States, while also highlighting the importance of the wine industry, with the US market being one of the leading destinations for Spanish wine.

The final meeting was held with John Garamendi, a congressman of Basque descent, who in 2016 championed the initiative to plant a sapling from the Tree of Gernika in the Capitol's Peace Park, a gesture he later shared with the President during a visit.

A Wide-Ranging Institutional Network

The Basque Government operates a broad institutional network, encompassing six key delegations: the Basque Country Delegation to the European Union (Brussels), the Basque Country Delegation to Argentina-Mercosur (Buenos Aires), the Basque Country Delegation to Chile, Peru, and Colombia (with offices in Santiago de Chile and Bogotá), the Basque Country Delegation to the United States (New York), the Basque Country Delegation to Mexico (Mexico City), and the Basque Country office in Madrid.  

The Basque Government's international delegations serve as representative offices aimed at reinforcing the Basque Country's institutional, political, economic, and cultural presence on the global stage. Through these offices, the Basque Government fosters relations with other nations, promotes the internationalisation of Basque businesses, and encourages collaboration in areas such as innovation, education and culture. Additionally, these offices serve as vital links to the Basque diaspora, providing support to Basque citizens abroad while enhancing the global visibility and positioning of the Basque Country.

The Basque Government's inaugural overseas office was established in Brussels in 1994. This office was created to represent the Basque Country's interests before European institutions, while also advancing its involvement in European Union projects and programmes.