Rafael Dezcallar Mazarredo is a diplomat who has served Spain with commitment through different responsibilities until his retirement in 2024. He has been with the foreign service all his professional life, albeit to the highest-ranking positions, in particular serving as Ambassador of Spain to Ethiopia and Germany, and more recently to the People’s Republic of China. His other positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain include serving as Director General of Foreign Policy and as the Deputy Director General of United Nations Affairs.
During his career, Ambassador Dezcallar has represented Spain at a variety of postings around the world, including in Honduras (1985-1987), Israel (1989-1992), Cuba (1992-1995), and the Holy See (2017-2018), often serving as chargé d’affaires or Deputy Head of Mission. He also served as Consul General in Moscow (1997-1998) and Bogotá (2012-2015), which further deepened his experience in political and consular matters. Throughout his career, he has been an intensive contributor to diplomatic discourse, with various lectures at the Atlantic Club in New York, the Economic Circle in Barcelona, the University of Tübingen, or the College of Europe, along with publications in prestigious Spanish and international media. For such committed service, Ambassador Dezcallar received several prestigious awards and honours; he received the Commander and Officer designations of the Order of Civil Merit and the Order of Isabella the Catholic, respectively, granted by the Spanish government for his contributions concerning foreign affairs. Furthermore, he was awarded the Grosse Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany. These distinctions underpin his commitment to the service for strengthening Spain’s international relationships and his role in the promotion of diplomatic ties around the world.
Nowadays, Ambassador Dezcallar is actively involved in international and academic life. Fluent in several languages, including English, French, German, and Italian. He maintains his public service activities as a member of non-governmental organisations and advisory boards, such as the Spanish Chapter of the Club of Rome. He is also the President of Ayuda en Acción, a developmental NGO. Ambassador Dezcallar is also an accomplished author, having published numerous works that reflect his diplomatic experience and insights into international affairs. His publications include “La Europa Dependiente” (1992), “Entre el Desierto y el Mar” (1998), “Tierra de Israel, Tierra Palestina” (2003), “Seda Negra” (2009), “El Pirata Bien Educado” (2015), and “Cesó la Horrible Noche” (2018
