The Diplomat
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, held a videoconference yesterday with the commands of the Spanish missions and contingents in Iraq, Mali, Lebanon and Operation ‘Atalanta’ to learn about the current situation in those areas of the world, as reported by the Ministry in a note. of press.
The first shift corresponded to Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero from the headquarters in Baghdad of the NATO mission, which he himself led last year and of which he will hand over command on May 24. During the interview, Robles – who spoke from the Operations Command headquarters – thanked him for the work of the mission “in a very intense year, which I have been able to see in situ.”
“The Spanish flag has been raised very high and the Iraqi prime minister is very grateful for Spain’s role. The two contingents have done exceptional work,” concluded the minister, in reference to the 370 Spanish soldiers and civilians participating in the two international operations in the country: the international coalition to fight against DAESH and the NATO advisory mission. and support to the Iraqi authorities and Armed Forces.
Subsequently, Brigadier General Santiago Fernández Ortiz-Repiso, head of the Mali contingent, informed Robles that logistical actions are continuing for the end of the mandate, which will take place on May 18, after eleven years of collaboration. close with the Malian Armed Forces through EUTM Mali, in which more than 20,000 soldiers have been trained.
“We can say that it has been a mission accomplished by all the soldiers who have passed through here,” said General Ortiz-Repiso. “Now we must continue to stand by them, asking them what they need and trying to cooperate and support them as much as possible in the future,” he added. Robles expressed her concern about the situation in the Sahel and she defended the need for the European Union not to abandon the area, at the same time that she stressed “the good relations of Spain with the Malian authorities.” “The civilian population has also recognized Spain’s role,” she added.
From Lebanon, Brigadier General Pablo Gómez Lera, head of the Spanish contingent of the ‘Libre Hidalgo’ operation in the Eastern sector of the UN mission, highlighted that the situation continues to be one of “instability, uncertainty and unpredictability” and that, These days, the contingent is immersed in preparations for the imminent relief that will take place between May 14 and 25. General Lera’s perception is that “although we have not managed to stop the violence along the ‘blue line’ and in the sector, the population perceives us as that thin blue line that is separating them from a total war.”
For all this, Minister Robles stated that “the whole of Spain should know the great role they are playing in preserving peace in such a complicated and difficult area, where they have had to spend many hours in the bunkers. Spain owes a debt of gratitude.”
The last shift corresponded to the ‘Atalanta’ operation, specifically the current report by frigate captain Carlos Cordón, in command of the frigate ‘Canarias’, and Lieutenant Colonel César Oliver, head of the ‘Orión’ aerotactic detachment in Djibouti. During this meeting, Robles highlighted the importance of naval deterrence, on the one hand, and information and intelligence work, on the other, of this operation, where an increase in piracy has been highlighted.
