The article addresses how the Spanish party Vox has built an international network of cooperation with right-wing parties, politicians, and organizations in Europe, Latin America, and the United States in recent years.
According to POLITICO, Vox is taking on an increasingly important role as a bridge between these political movements.
1. Vox aims to expand influence beyond Spain
Vox is a right-wing nationalist party that entered the Spanish Parliament in 2019. Unlike other European right-wing parties, which have been building influence for many decades, Vox is relatively new to national politics.
However, the party has invested in building international relations. According to the article, these ties could give it greater influence in Europe and on the international stage than its weight within Spain would suggest.
The article also mentions the November 29 elections in Spain and the expectations for an increase in Vox's parliamentary representation. If this increase materializes, the party could become an important factor in the creation of a coalition government with the conservative Popular Party.
2. The Disenso Foundation, the main instrument of international expansion
A central role in this strategy is played by the Disenso Foundation, created in 2020 and headquartered in Madrid.
Through this foundation, Vox has built a network of institutions, conferences, political contacts, and training programs.
One of the main initiatives is the Madrid Forum, which brings together right-wing parties, politicians and organizations from various Latin American countries.
According to the article, Vox has poured millions of euros into the foundation over the past six years, providing it with resources to expand political relations across the Atlantic.
3. Connections with Latin America: Milei and Kast
An important part of Vox's strategy is to target countries that have historical and linguistic ties to Spain.
The article mentions the party's relations with Argentine President Javier Milei and Chilean politician José Antonio Kast.
Vox shows interest in political models that support reducing state intervention in the economy, deregulation, and encouraging private investment.
Jorge Martín Frías, a Vox MEP and head of the Disenso Foundation, describes Latin America as a space with great economic and political potential.
Other political figures are also included in this network. The article mentions the meeting in Madrid between Vox leader Santiago Abascal and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
4. Connection to the MAGA movement in the US
One of the most important points of the article is Vox's approach to figures from the MAGA movement in the United States, associated with Donald Trump.
According to POLITICO, Vox has built relationships with influential figures in this movement, expanding its network beyond Europe and Latin America.
This connection gives the Spanish party the opportunity to participate in a broader space of international political cooperation, where topics such as national sovereignty, identity, the economy and the role of international institutions are discussed.
5. Santiago Abascal and influence in Brussels
The article points out that Vox leader Santiago Abascal is now at the head of the European political group Patriots.eu.
This group includes parties such as:
Viktor Orbán's Fidesz, from Hungary;
National Rally of Marine Le Pen, from France;
Lega, from Italy;
Vlaams Belang, from Belgium;
Chega, from Portugal.
According to the article, Viktor Orbán's departure from the mainstream political scene has created a space for reorganization and competition for influence within this political camp.
In this context, Abascal is gaining a more important role in coordinating right-wing forces at the European level.
6. Why does Vox have an advantage in European cooperation?
POLITICO also points out a practical element: the ability of Vox representatives to communicate in different languages.
The article compares this to the experience of the National Rally in France, where the more limited use of foreign languages has been cited as an obstacle to building broad international relations.
Vox representatives, on the other hand, are more willing to communicate in different languages, which has helped Abascal position himself as a unifying figure in the Patriots.eu group.
7. What does this political network aim to achieve?
Finally, the article describes a strategy that goes beyond the elections in Spain.
Vox aims to create a sustainable network of cooperation between right-wing parties in Europe, Latin America, and the US, in order to influence not only national policies, but also European Union decision-making.
According to the vision presented by the party's representatives, Europe should consist of sovereign states that protect their national interests and cooperate with each other when they have common objectives./ Politico