Julissa Reynoso She is the first woman to hold the position of ambassador of USA in Spain, from the end of 2021. Nation in Dominican Republic 48 years ago and at 7 he moved to New York. Grew up as an immigrant girl in the Bronx but with dedication and a lot of effort he came to study at the best universities: Harvard, Columbia y Cambridge. She is not a career diplomat, but a lawyer and is closely linked to the familia Biden. She was the first lady’s chief of staff. Jill Biden.
-You are the first ambassador of the United States in Spain. Do you feel like an exception in a still masculine world?
– Well, I have been lucky and blessed that President Biden gave me this opportunity. It’s a bit sad that it took so many years to send a woman here. But hey, here I am. We have come a long way. In the United States today approximately 40% percent of the embassies we have in the world are run by women. This particular Administration is very focused on this issue. And I think that women give a special touch, a particular touch to this type of work. We are very aware of the gender issue, the issue of equality, of equity in general.
-Your references in politics, are they women?
-I have men and women who have contributed and helped me throughout my career. But yes, I have had the opportunity to work with some very special women and have very special women as friends. In politics, I started in the State Department, when I was very young, with Secretary Clinton. I am not a diplomatic career. But I did join her in 2009 and I spent five years working in the government under President Obama. Then I went to the private sector and went back to government again with the Bidens. Dr. Biden was my boss, she is a great ally and one of the main reasons why I am here in Spain.
Do you consider yourself a feminist?
-I think so. It would be important to define what feminism is. But if the definition is how we can make public policies and regulations to advance gender equality and equality in general and create opportunities for all human beings to develop their potential, then I am a feminist.
–You have come far. But reviewing his biography and origins a bit, it must not have been easy for him. Going back to the topic, you are the embodiment of the American dream.
-Well. I have been very lucky, very lucky. I have worked a lot. But I have many friends in circumstances similar to mine, immigrants who grew up with limited resources, with a similar story. In the United States, if you work, study and focus on a path with discipline and respect, many doors open. And that happened with me. But it has happened to many people in my country, which perhaps from the outside is seen as not very extraordinary.
–What is your balance of the long year you have been in Spain?
I’ve had a very productive year. We had a visit from President Biden last year, with all of his closest team on foreign relations and defense issues, with the first lady. That helped the relationship a lot. We were able to announce important projects and gestures with Spain. We have pending things that we have to complete, to move forward. But there is a great openness on the part of the Spanish government, by the private sector, by civil society, by political parties in working with the United States.
-How would you define bilateral relations now?
-President Biden said when he arrived that Spain is an indispensable ally and this word marks a lot of what we do and how the relationship is seen. What satisfies me the most is the flow of contacts that exists between the countries, from the government and the highest level, to businessmen, academics. And I think that relationship is going to continue, as smoothly and as strongly as I see it today.
– Often relations are also built from the personal harmony that exists between presidents. There was one between Obama and Rodríguez Zapatero, also between Bush and Aznar. Do you think there is also this harmony between Pedro Sánchez and Joe Biden?
-Yeah. When the president was here, he was noticeable in the gestures, in the chemistry, in the energy, the informality in the way they interacted. There have been other meetings then, at the G-20 meeting. There have been calls. I think I know President Biden well and I know when he likes people. With respect to President Sánchez, there is a very good relationship and a level of trust that can be seen in the interpersonal exchange between them.
– Before those meetings, at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, President Biden called several European leaders by phone but not Sánchez. That’s why he asked her about that personal tune.
-Yes it exists. Presidents have had the opportunity to speak directly on this issue, on the phone and in person, and obviously ministers are in constant conversation. And with that meeting here, which lasted almost three days here seeing President Sánchez, he demonstrated that harmony a lot.
-How are the negotiations for the modification of the agreement on Rota that will allow the deployment of two other US destroyers?
– We are in continuous dialogue with the Government on various issues, including this one. This topic has come a long way. The Spanish government has to finalize its internal processes to ensure that everything is as it should be under Spanish law, but we have come a long way. Last year, the presidents announced a political commitment to be able to modify the agreement and that path is underway.
–But hasn’t the formal negotiation started yet?
We are discussing the matter.
-.But Pedro Sánchez has traveled to China this week. How do you see this trip and that of other European leaders to Beijing?
-Countries, sovereigns have the right to dialogue with other countries in the world. We believe that given the role of the Chinese government in the world and the way it has behaved, we hope that the allies will send a clear message to it as to how we believe we can reach a much more constructive relationship than it has been until today. But in terms of contacts, visits and dialogue with countries, Spain and the rest of the allied countries can make decisions about who they talk to and where they travel.
-How does the US see China’s latest proposal on Ukraine?
-Our position has always been that we are open to a fair solution. But the Ukrainian government must be an integral part of this solution and must make the decision of what it considers a just peace. If the Chinese government wants to play a constructive role, it must consult and ensure that the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian nation agree to any proposal that is circulating.
-Because of the role and weight that China has and its proximity to Russia, does the United States government believe that China can play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine?
-Given the situation and the contacts that China has had with the Russian government and that friendship and that relationship without limits, in principle it is difficult to understand that it is a neutral party in this situation.
-The high representative of foreign policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, has said that it is necessary to continue helping and arming Ukraine until victory. Is this also the position of the United States?
– Our position is that the Ukrainians can continue to defend themselves until they reach a position where they can see their territorial integrity guaranteed. That proposal to defend yourself until victory is perhaps similar to what Borrell raised. But if we can come up with a solution where Ukraine’s sovereignty can be guaranteed, we will all be in a position to study the proposal and make sure it is acceptable to the Ukrainian government and people.
– Do you think that this position that the United States Government now defends to continue arming Ukraine will be maintained as the date of the elections approaches?
-Congress is the one that approves the budget in the United States. And obviously there has been consistent support for Ukraine by both houses of Congress. And one of those cameras is from the opposition to President Biden. We have faith and confidence that Congress, with all its diversity, will continue to support what we believe is necessary to ensure that this country can defend itself.
Does the United States envision a near end to the war?
– We hope that for the good of these citizens and to put an end to all that cruelty that we are experiencing, there may be an end, soon.