US president Barak Obama is heading to sunny Spain for his first state visit there.
After attending his fifth and last summit with Nato leaders in Poland on 7-9 July, the president will spend 9-11 July in Spain for meetings on security and economy.
"The visit to Spain, an important NATO Ally, will highlight robust security cooperation, a strong political and economic relationship, and longstanding people-to-people ties," the White House statement said.
"The President’s agenda in Spain will include meetings with His Majesty the King of Spain and the acting prime minister of Spain." The acting prime minister is Mariano Rajoy who was formerly the head of state and now is one of the contestants in the 26 June election.
James Costos, the American ambassador to Madrid tweeted:
The visit will come less than a fortnight after Spain goes to the polls for the second time since December.
There is much political uncertainty in the country after no coalition arrangements could be forged to prevent a hung parliament. It remains to be seen if the outcome of the fresh election on 26 June will result in a party or coalition able to control a majority of seats to govern.
