King Felipe VI presides over 25th anniversary of 9/11 commemoration in Rota, alongside Robles and the US ambassador

The Diplomat King Felipe VI attended the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks this Friday at the Rota Naval Base. Also participating were the US Ambassador to Spain, Benjamin León Jr., and the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. This is the second time King Felipe has participated in a commemoration at the Rota Naval Base for the 9/11 attacks. The then Prince of Asturias attended a similar commemoration on September 16, 2001, just five days after the tragedy. Upon his arrival, King Felipe was received by the US Ambassador; the Government Delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández; the Mayor of Rota, José Javier Ruiz; and the Admiral of the Fleet, José Enrique Delgado. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture, Historical Heritage, and Sport of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Patricia del Pozo, and other Spanish and American civil and military authorities. The ceremony began with a parade of the Honor Guard and the playing of the national anthems of Spain and the United States, followed by a flyover by aircraft from the Spanish Navy and the U.S. Navy. A wreath-laying ceremony then took place, in which the King and the U.S. Ambassador to Spain placed ribbons on wreaths carried by representatives of the U.S. Fire Department and the U.S. Navy. The event also included a religious invocation, a commemorative reading for September 11, and speeches by the Commander of U.S. Naval Activities in Spain and the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. The ceremony concluded with the Last Alarm, the ringing of bells, a blessing, and Taps. "25 years after September 11, 2001, we remember those who lost their lives and celebrate the unbreakable strength of the American spirit," the U.S. Embassy posted on social media Friday. “The Minister of Defense is accompanying His Majesty the King in Rota for the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,” the Ministry of Defense posted on social media. “A joint tribute to keep alive the memory of those who died that day and to reaffirm our commitment against terrorism,” it added. Pedro Sánchez For his part, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recalled on social media that “9/11 changed the world” and warned that, “25 years later, its lessons remain relevant.” “No country can guarantee its security alone. We need more cooperation, more multilateralism, and more respect for international law,” he added. “Today we remember the victims and their families, and we extend our deepest solidarity and affection to the American people on this day of sorrowful remembrance,” Sánchez wrote. “Spain will continue working for peace, for democracy, and for a rules-based international order,” he concluded.

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