The U.S.-Spain relationship remains critical for both countries and for global innovation – and never was this clearer than at this year’s United States–Spain Council.
Organized by the Fundación Consejo España–EE.UU., the event brought together senior leaders from government, industry, and civil society to advance bilateral cooperation on key issues shaping our collective future. Namely, the event placed a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity across three critical domains: artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, and transportation infrastructure.
Advancing AI responsibly for economic growth
The opening working session focused on AI as a driver of economic competitiveness, highlighting the growing need for responsible governance frameworks, public-private partnerships, and equitable access to foundational technologies. The gathering debated the opportunities and challenges in promoting AI’s advancement while ensuring appropriate levels of regulation and responsibility to account for the spectrum of dynamic risk that AI will present to society – a challenge relevant not just for the U.S. and Spain, but geographies and industries at large.
One thing that was clear from this discussion is that the benefits of AI for efficiencies are clear, whether that is in the corporate sector or any other setting. However, the technology is a proverbial needle to be threaded. Its impact on jobs, and its effect on the critical thinking and cognitive abilities of students and others who use the technology as a crutch, will need to be considered and combatted as AI adoption accelerates.
The panel also addressed the overarching challenges and opportunities AI can bring to the collaborative relationship between European Union members and the United States, using Spain as a case study in the areas of national security, trade, financial services, and individual privacy. While the Eurozone’s fragmented financial system isn’t conducive to massive investments, Spain is attracting large foreign companies like Amazon, which is building AWS data centers in the Aragon region (specifically in the Zaragoza area) given its strategic location as a logistics and technology hub.
However, the project faces backlash as data centers require vast amounts of water to cool them, at a moment when Spain is experiencing climate change-induced water scarcity due to prolonged droughts and declining rainfall. In response, AWS is experimenting with technologies to reduce water usage. Even so, energy consumption is still a major concern, especially given the massive blackout Spain and Portugal suffered earlier this year.
To this end, and to address the lack of regulation on data centers specifically, Spain has developed a Draft Royal Decree to implement and surpass the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive to ensure transparency, build sustainable practices for increased energy efficiency, and support sector growth. Both the push for regulation and the situation with the U.S. tariffs are creating complexities that require AI-focused corporations and entities that straddle the Atlantic to have a deep understanding of the changing landscape to effectively navigate and shape these emerging policy efforts.
Energy transition and urban innovation amid global pressures
Discussions on day two turned to the energy transition and infrastructure modernization. Speakers underscored the urgent need for grid digitization, smarter energy management, and greater investment in clean technologies – especially given rising global demand and geopolitical pressures. The final panel explored how both nations can rethink urban mobility through innovation, sustainability, and better integrated transport systems.
As it stands, there are Spanish and American corporations with stakes in the development of infrastructure of all types in both countries, whether it’s roads, or energy-generating capacity. For the past few decades, Spain has expanded its public transportation system beyond urban hubs to connect all the population centers through a strong railroad network which includes fast trains and conventional rail. The country has also significantly modernized its highway system over the past 30 years. Spanish infrastructure companies are leveraging this experience to expand into other markets such as the United States. Stateside, there are some Spanish multinationals working on bridges and road construction, and at least one that has entered the water management sector. Back on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain is also adding charging capacity for electric vehicles (EVs) at a fast clip, aided by EU funds and local regulations to limit air pollution in urban areas.
With these technologies that require large amounts of electricity to operate, further expanding capacity will be vital for all economies involved. This is both a challenge, and a great opportunity for multinational players to generate investments, lower electricity costs, and accommodate new technologies.
Driving shared prosperity
The Forum’s key message was clear – and reiterated by none other than H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain: sustained cooperation between the U.S. and Spain are essential. Stakeholders should continue to engage – especially on digital innovation and policy shaping – share best practices, and invest in collaborative solutions to maximize the benefits of this enduring partnership for both markets.