The charge d'affaires at the American embassy in Madrid Conrad Tribble told El Pais, Friday, that the United States is aware of the «importance» of the Western Sahara issue for Spain. «This is one of the many issues that are under consideration. There is a dialogue with all the actors within the framework of the United Nations but we have not taken any decision. Secretary Blinken said he wanted to understand the context and the commitments». Conrad Tribble «What I can reaffirm is that this administration wishes to consult the allies and support multilateral institutions such as the UN and any decision taken in a case like this (the Sahara) would fall within this framework», Tribble said in response to a question calling Donald Trump's Dec. 10 decision «one-sided». Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez urged the Biden team to «return to multilateralism», stressing that «there is no room for unilateralism in the management of international relations». She also underlined that it is up to the Biden administration «to assess the situation (on the Sahara) and to see how it will position itself and work towards a just and lasting solution which does not depend on a current alignment». On Tuesday February 16, Antony Blinken had his first phone call with Gonzalez. It comes two weeks after the remote discussion on February 2 between US security adviser Jake Sullivan and Emma Aparci, chief diplomatic advisor to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
