<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Spain has assumed command of NATO's Allied Maritime Reaction Force, whose mission is to contribute to maritime surveillance in peacetime and work on deterrence and defense tasks against the main threats in the current geopolitical landscape.</strong></h4> The command, which was assumed on July 1 and will conclude within twelve months, will be exercised from the High Readiness Maritime Headquarters, located on the amphibious assault ship "Castilla," at Rota Naval Base. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Maritime Headquarters Staff, with 186 personnel on board the ship, is an elite unit found only in seven Alliance countries and is prepared to respond, within a maximum of five days, to any Alliance request for information, monitoring, and operations, and to support NATO's regional commands in Norfolk, Brunssum, and Naples. Defense Minister Margarita Robles visited the ship on Wednesday to learn about the work the General Staff carries out around the clock to carry out its command duties. "When the Alliance congratulates us for our work, that is the best sign that Spain is a great country, with highly qualified Armed Forces and, above all, with great human qualities that leave their mark," Robles stated. To assume this responsibility, the High Readiness Headquarters has undergone an intensive certification process for more than a year, participating in three NATO exercises and meeting performance standards and operational requirements ('mission capable').
