The Diplomat
The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, and the permanent representatives to the North Atlantic Council (NAC) attended a meeting yesterday at the Operations Command (MOPS) at the Retamares base in Madrid to discuss the current participation of the Spanish Armed Forces in NATO operations, missions and activities.
The visit is part of the events marking the 40th anniversary of Spain’s accession to NATO, which will culminate with the Atlantic Alliance Summit to be held in Madrid on 29 and 30 June.
At the MOPS headquarters in the Madrid town of Pozuelo de Alarcón, Robles thanked the NAC ambassadors and the chairman of NATO’s Military Committee (MCC), Admiral Rob Bauer, for their presence, and reiterated that Spain “is fully committed” to the Alliance.
“We believe that NATO is much more than a military alliance, it is a community of values, and in these difficult times, this idea of unity is very important,” said the minister, who added that Spain feels “very proud” because when “we are together and we show this image of unity, we are stronger”.
Robles also thanked the men and women of the Armed Forces, since, she said, Spain’s incorporation into the Alliance was possible thanks to their “effort and sacrifice”, and recalled those who are currently “in faraway places defending peace, freedom and security”.
During the visit, which was also attended by Spain’s permanent representative ambassador to NATO, Miguel Ángel Fernández Palacios, and the MOPS commander, Air Force Lieutenant General Francisco Braco, the Minister and the NAC ambassadors attended a briefing by the Deputy Chief of Operations, Air Force Brigadier General Francisco Javier Vidal, who highlighted Spain’s contribution to Alliance missions.
