Spain and the UN: Isolation and Diplomatic Restoration Under Franco

UN Resolution of 9 February 1946 on Spain's International Relations

The introduction of this topic is the political history that surrounded the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 1946), which affected Spain's international relations. After the end of World War II (1939-1945), Great Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union would become the new world political map. In 1945, the organization of the United Nations (UN) was created. Western parliamentary democracies did not want to support the global conflict, and Spain under Francoism, which had been an ally of Hitler and Mussolini's Italy, was not admitted to the UN or to participate in the international order.

Marginalization of Francoist Spain

The main cause of the international marginalization of Francoist Spain was its support for the Axis powers, fascist Germany and Italy, during the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. Commentators have noted that the first phase of Spain's foreign and economic policy was surprisingly autarkic. Its economic policy did not change until the 1950s, and at the same time Spain was isolated from the Western nations and its cultural context.

If Spain had evolved toward a democratic regime, it could have been forgiven for its collaboration with Hitler and Mussolini. However, after World War II, diplomatic difficulties and the situation in Europe, especially in 1946, placed Spain in a precarious position. France, together with the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States, opposed the Franco regime. In 1946, Spain was seen as one of the last remnants of fascism in Europe, and a phalanx-based regime was seen as unacceptable. Democratic governments at the UN took measures against Spain, including breaking diplomatic relations and imposing economic sanctions.

The 1946 UN Resolution

However, not all of the proposed measures were adopted. In December 1946, the General Assembly voted to recommend that all members of the UN withdraw their ambassadors from Madrid. The resolution also stated that, should the Franco regime not liberalize, further measures would be taken to restore freedom in Spain. This decision was supported by 34 votes in favor, 6 against and 12 abstentions.

The practical effect of the measure was limited. Relations between Spain and many UN members remained poor, and only three ambassadors were withdrawn: those of Britain, Poland and Turkey. Latin American nations, however, kept their relations with Spain. The Argentine ambassador in Madrid proposed sending aid to Spain, and Argentina was crucial in supplying food to the Spanish population during the post-war period.

Expulsion from International Agencies

Spain was expelled in 1947 from the International Telecommunication Union and from the International Civil Aviation Organization. The Cold War then shifted the situation in Spain's favor. In 1950, the process of normalizing diplomatic relations with Spain began among the Western powers, which had previously been providing economic aid to Spain for several years.

Finally, on 4 November 1950, the General Assembly adopted a resolution that authorized the organization's members to resume relations with Spain. From then on, the Cold War became a decisive factor. The change in attitude of the Western powers toward the Franco regime did not involve endorsing the regime itself, but it made the acceptance of the Spanish state possible.

From Isolation to Integration

This explains why Spain was integrated into the international system and why Franco, who had been born in 1892, did not visit any other country until the 1950s. The so-called international isolation of Spain (Item 9) was therefore less complete than it appeared. After the Second World War, in 1945, the victorious powers regarded Franco's Spain as a residue of fascism, and the great powers prevented Spain's admission to the UN because of its interconnected links with its past and with Italy.

The UN passed several resolutions recommending diplomatic rupture with Spain, considering the Franco regime a threat to world peace. France closed its border with Spain, and only a handful of ambassadors remained in Spain. These measures were intended to pressure Franco and force him to step down. However, the isolation was never complete, and commercial contacts with the Franco regime continued, creating a new landscape for the regime.

Cold War Realignment and Recognition

From 1950 onward, the international climate favored the start of Spain's rehabilitation. The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the USSR led the UN to recognize the Franco government. For its part, the United States changed its attitude and valued Francoism as an ally. Bilateral agreements were concluded in 1953, which favored the Franco regime and helped to improve its international image. Spain joined the UN in 1955 and became a member of the International Monetary Fund in 1958.

In the same period, Spain's colonial territories were forced to recognize Morocco's independence in 1956.