The Elcano Royal Institute (Real Instituto Elcano) is a private entity, independent of both the Public Administration and the companies that provide most of its funding. It was established, under the honorary presidency of HRH the Prince of Asturias, on 2 December 2001 as a forum for analysis and debate on international affairs and particularly on Spain’s international relations. Its output aims to be of use to Spain’s decision-makers, both public and private, active on the international scene. Its work should similarly promote the knowledge of Spain in the strategic scenarios in which the country’s interests are at stake.

From its inception the Elcano Royal Institute considers itself a non-partisan –but not neutral– institution that seeks to promote the values by which it was inspired and which, by means of multidisciplinary analysis of existing and –especially– forward developments, aims to establish a global strategy resulting in political proposals having a practical application.