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The Cuban-American Benjamín León Jr., recently sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, delivered his first message from Madrid, where he highlighted President Donald Trump's foreign policy and his commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
“It's a pleasure to be with you here in Madrid. Today marks the beginning of one of the most exciting stages of my life, both professionally and personally,” León expressed in a message released by the U.S. Embassy in Spain.
In his words, he emphasized the international focus of the U.S. president: “President Trump has proposed a strong foreign policy to achieve results for the benefit of the American people.”
León added that he feels "immensely proud to serve as their ambassador to Spain and Andorra and to lead our diplomatic mission in these two important allied countries."
He also highlighted the historical ties between both countries. He reminded that this year the United States is celebrating 250 years of independence, “an independence that was largely achieved thanks to Spain,” and described it as “a great honor” to work alongside the governments and people of Spain and Andorra.
When outlining his priorities, he stated: “In the coming years, I will work to invest in our common defense and in our allies' shared goal of reaching 5% of defense spending, to accelerate our already significant trade relations, to strengthen our borders, to maintain our efforts against transnational crime, and to promote our mutual interests in Latin America.”
He also assured that upon his arrival, he is committed to “expanding and strengthening this historical relationship and, through collaboration, providing greater security and prosperity to our citizens.”
León also referred to his personal connection to Spain: “My wife and I also share a personal bond with Spain, a nation that previous generations of our families considered their home.” He added: “As we begin our stay here, we do so with a deep love for the language, history, and culture, but above all, with great appreciation for the Spanish and Andorran peoples.”
The businessman, born in Cuba in 1944 and who emigrated to the United States in 1961 at the age of 16, was sworn in on February 10th by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after being confirmed by the Senate following his nomination by President Trump.
In January 2025, upon announcing his nomination, Trump described him as "a highly successful businessman, horseman, and philanthropist" and recalled, "He arrived in the United States from communist Cuba at the age of 16, with just five dollars in his pocket, and went on to transform his company, Leon Medical Centers, into an incredible business."
Days before his arrival in Spain, León held a meeting in Miami with the U.S. chief of mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, in a context of intense diplomatic activity towards the island.
León's arrival in Madrid comes amid debates regarding defense spending within NATO. During a Senate hearing last October, the now ambassador emphasized that Spain is a key ally and that cooperation in this area is "essential for maintaining stability in Europe and beyond."
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