From the Office of the Prime Minister of Spain:  The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, has appointed Alejandro Alvargonzalez San Martín as the next Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, a position of extraordinary importance which, in all respects, equates to the number three within the organisation.

This announcement was made by Jens Stoltenberg to the acting Minister for Defence, Pedro Morenés, during a telephone conversation on Monday morning [June 27, 2016]. This decision by the Secretary-General means that a Spaniard once again holds a position of extraordinary importance within the organisation; something that has not happened since 2001 when Juan Martínez Esparza was appointed Assistant Secretary General for Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency Planning.

Alejandro Alvargonzalez, a career diplomat, has held the post of Secretary-General for Defence Policy since January 2012, when he was appointed by Pedro Morenés following his work as Spanish Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The appointment of Alejandro Alvargonzalez to this post significantly boosts his personal career and Spain’s commitment to NATO and its allies, and also increases Spain’s importance on the international stage.

Through NATO, Spain is currently involved in the defence missions taking place in Turkey and Afghanistan, is a member of the Standing Maritime Group Nº 1, and leads the new NATO “Spearhead Force” – the organisation’s main rapid response force.

From NATO:  Personal Information: Born on 21 July 1959, Married. Two children.

Professional Career
Member of the Diplomatic Corps since 1987. Since January 2012:
Secretary General for Defence Policy (Ministry of Defence)
2009/2011: Ambassador of Spain to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2007/09: Deputy Director for International Economic Relations with Developing Countries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation).
2004/07: Consul General of Spain in Shanghai (China).
2002/04: Deputy Director of Asia for Political Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation).
2000/02: Director of the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for Security (Ministry of the Interior).
Other assignments in Geneva, Havana, Cairo and Central America.

Other Activities:  Abundant articles, conferences and lectures in different universities.
Education:  Political Sciences (Madrid Complutense University)
Languages: English, French and Spanish.

Image: Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Alejandro Alvargonzález (photo: Spanish Ministry of Defense)