<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, held a video conference on Wednesday with the heads of the Spanish contingents deployed in Latvia and Slovakia, to whom she highlighted "the importance of the role played by Spanish troops in the Eastern Flank".</strong></h4> Spain leads the NATO Forward Presence Combat Group in Slovakia as part of the Alliance's strategy to reinforce the Eastern flank of Europe. Our country has deployed 1,700 soldiers within the Euro-Atlantic territory, including those of the current land contingent in Latvia and the troops in Slovakia and Romania. The NATO mission in Slovakia collaborates with the local Armed Forces to guarantee regional stability and the protection of the allied space and to offer a coordinated response to any possible threat. Spain contributes capabilities for collective defence, deterrence and protection of the whole of Europe. In addition to Spanish troops, the Multinational Brigade also includes contingents from the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Portugal, which will be expanded at the beginning of next year with the inclusion of units from Slovakia and Romania. In Latvia, Spain has had troops in the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission since 2017, whose main mission is deterrence and defence on the European Eastern Flank. Around 550 Army personnel are deployed in Adazi, of which 358 are integrated into the Multinational Battalion, while 87 soldiers are deployed at the Lievarde base with an Anti-Aircraft Defence Unit. Apart from the soldiers, Spain contributes 'Leopardo 2 E' battle tanks and 'Pizarro' Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV). This is the first time that our nation has deployed this type of capacity in a mission abroad. During her conversation with the heads of the contingents in Slovakia and Latvia, the minister assured that “the importance of the role played by the Spanish troops on the Eastern Flank is indisputable and unquestionable” and added that “their work makes Spain a reliable partner and a reference within the NATO framework, where the leadership and capabilities of the Armed Forces of our country are a mirror in which other nations look at themselves.” “No one doubts that we are living through difficult times, nor does anyone doubt that the contribution that Spain makes within NATO and the European Union with personnel, machinery and experience that confirm our commitment, as a country, to peace and freedom,” said Margarita Robles, who warned of the need to support and defend NATO because “the threats, unfortunately, will continue to exist.” Currently, according to the Ministry of Defense, Spain is present in fifteen countries with the deployment of nearly 4,000 soldiers.
