He began his diplomatic career as the head of the Coordination Section for Eastern Europe between 1977-80. At the end of 1980, he was appointed First Secretary of the Spanish Embassy in Yugoslavia After years of diplomatic activity; he engaged in politics and was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Córdoba. In 2004, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and in 2012, he joined the Global Dry Land Alliance in Qatar and promoted an international treaty for food security in over 15 countries. From 2012-13 he was member of the high level advisory panel of the president of the 67th UN General Assembly.