Spain–Tuvalu relations

The islands of Tuvalu were discovered by the Spaniards in 1568, with the arrival of Álvaro de Mendaña de Neyra. It was in the 16th century when ships of Spanish nationality passed through the islands, the explorer and navigator Álvaro de Mendaña and Neyra arrived in them in 1568 on their ship called La capitana, arrived at what is now the island of Nui, which he called Isla de Jesús (Spanish for "Island of Jesus"). This was because the previous day had been the feast of the Holy Name. Mendaña made contact with the islanders but was unable to land.[3] During Mendaña's second voyage across the Pacific he passed Niulakita on 29 August 1595, which he named La Solitaria.[3][4] Then another explorer passed through the islands in the year of 1781 called Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle, who initially went from Manila to New Spain, however the winds did not favor him and he sailed past Niutao on 5 May 1781. Mourelle's map and journal named the island El Gran Cocal ('The Great Coconut Plantation').[4][5] None of these explorers took great importance to these territories and they continued to their destinations.

Spain has maintained diplomatic relations with Tuvalu since May 4 of 1995. Apart from the historical fact that the islands were discovered in 1567 by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, bilateral relations both politically and commercially between the two countries are scarce, mainly framed within the framework of EU cooperation with Tuvalu through the programs of the Development Funds and the Economic Partnership Agreement. The country is under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Embassy in Canberra, and consular affairs are addressed from the Spanish Consulate General in Sydney.[6]