Since his arrival to the presidency in 1996, José María Aznar set out to achieve a greater capacity for dialogue with the United States. The objective was to improve the Spanish presence abroad, participate in the decision-making of the centers of power and jointly combat ETA terrorism. After the September 11 attacks and during the first three years of George W. Bush's first term in office (2001-2004), Aznar sought harmony at the presidential level with the intention of being able to exert some influence over the United States. This close bilateral relationship culminated in the photo of the Azores, a symbol of a mutual commitment acquired in anti-terrorist matters. However, the strategy of the Popular Party during the two mandates of José María Aznar in its relations with the United States had an ultimate goal: to improve Spain's position at the international level and international relations between the two countries.