Obama to visit Spain in July

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Spain from July 911 to meet with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy with the aim of emphasizing bilateral cooperation in security and the “strong political and economic relationship” between the two nations, the White House announced Monday.

The trip to Spain will be the first by a U.S. president in 15 years, after George W. Bush traveled to the Iberian nation in 2001.

Spain is “an important NATO ally” and Obama’s visit will serve to “highlight robust security cooperation, a strong political and economic relationship, and longstanding peopletopeople ties,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

Last September, after receiving Felipe in the Oval Office, Obama said that he hoped to be able to visit Spain before his term ended in January 2017, and he emphasized the “great friendship” between the two countries.

Finally, the trip will occur in July just two weeks after the holding of new legislative elections in Spain after six months of an interim government.

The U.S. leader will travel to Spain from Warsaw, where he will attend the NATO summit on July 79.

In a statement confirming Obama’s visit, the Spanish Foreign Ministry placed it “within the framework of the excellent bilateral relations in all areas,” adding that the U.S. president is making the trip in response to the king’s invitation.

The White House has not said whether Obama will visit Spain with his wife Michelle and his two daughters Malia and Sasha.

In 2010, the first lady and Sasha made a private visit to Spain during which they were received by King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and thenPrincess Letizia on the island of Mallorca.