This has to be Spain’s letter of introduction to the world”, was the request that Pedro Sánchez made to his team in Moncloa when, almost a year ago, he launched the organization of the most massive summit held by the NATO in its history –with up to 44 international delegations–, and which closed this Thursday in Madrid exceeding all expectations, both due to the agreements signed and the complex logistics deployed. “It has been magnificent, all the planned objectives have been achieved by far”, the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Government, Francisco Martín, responsible for making all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, assures La Vanguardia. The three days left memorable moments for all the Heads of State and Government present, and also for their companions.
An unexpected welcome. “Javier! But what are you doing here? Most of the world leaders met with an unexpected reception when they arrived at the working dinner to which Sánchez invited them on Wednesday at the Prado Museum. As soon as they got out of the cars, the first person to welcome them was Javier Solana, who was Secretary General of NATO between 1995 and 1999 and continues to be a reference in all international forums. For many of the guests, old friends and those who hold him in high esteem, it was a huge surprise. What they did not know, and hence Solana’s presence at the event, is that he now presides over the Prado’s patronage.
The chef’s speech. Sánchez already knew the renowned chef José Andrés well, with whom he met again when the Prime Minister traveled to Kyiv last April to meet with Volodímir Zelenski. Nothing has been finalized there yet, but a few weeks ago in Moncloa they thought of him again to cook the menu for the Euro-Atlantic dinner. José Andrés gave a speech to international leaders, but put aside the presentation of the menu to ask for solidarity with the Ukrainian people that he himself practices on the ground with his NGO. He received a standing ovation: his heartfelt words pierced.
The payroll of the orchestra. What better symbolic load. The Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, which was in Berlin as a refugee from the war, was invited to perform several pieces as a prelude to the dinner at the Prado. That same day, in the morning, chef José Andrés called Moncloa to explain that the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klichkó, ??was in Madrid and wanted to greet Sánchez. So he was also invited and went to greet the musicians at the end of their performance. The conductor of the orchestra informed him that they had not received their payroll for three months due to the war, and that his situation was dire. “It can’t be!” replied the mayor. Right there he picked up the phone and solved it immediately. The next day, the musicians collected their overdue payroll.
The muses of Hortalà. International leaders took the opportunity to enjoy the Prado, as a flagship of Spanish culture, for themselves. Some, like the Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, had already visited it a dozen times. For others, like the British Boris Johnson, it was the first time for him, and he was as interested in seeing as many works of art as the day before with the Goya paintings housed in the Royal Palace. The Italian Mario Draghi, on the other hand, was barely able to enjoy anything, given the political fire in his Executive, and after dinner he had to hasten his return home. In the Hall of the Muses, where the spouses of the international leaders dined, there was another surprise: a painting by the Catalan painter Lluís Hortalà, made specifically for the occasion – The Waiting Pedestal – and which was presented with a performance by a quartet of Tarragona rope. Hortalà donated the work, which will now be auctioned. And the money obtained will in turn be sent to Ukraine.
The best kept secret. Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, turned to the organization of the intense parallel program for the companions of world leaders, which she starred in with Queen Letizia. Ingrid Schulerud, the wife of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, thanked him on behalf of everyone with the gift of a bouquet of flowers. A delicate moment, however, was the visit to the Royal Glass Factory of La Granja, when the White House security service, which did not detach itself at any time from Jill Biden, frowned at the planned exhibition of blown glass. Finally, after getting enough reassurance, the first lady of the United States attended the demo and… she was impressed. The final surprise was still missing, a secret that was difficult to keep hidden: all the guests received as a gift, when they arrived at their respective hotels, an engraved glass bottle made in the factory. The success was absolute.
Lemon trees in Moncloa. The twenty rooms of the Ifema pavilions where the bilateral meetings of the NATO summit were held were illustrated with images of municipalities from all the autonomous regions –Vall de Boí was the Catalan representation–, and also highlighted the strong symbolic load of the reproductions of El abrazo , by Juan Genovés, and of Un mundo , by the Catalan painter Ángeles Santos, paintings that form part of the Reina Sofía Museum’s collection. Olive and lemon trees were also planted in the pavilions of the fair – an attempt was made, but it is not the time for orange trees – which will now be moved to the gardens of the Moncloa Palace. They will remain there as a reminder of a summit that, in Pedro Sánchez’s opinion, showed the world the best image of Spain.
