Spanish frigate Victoria (F-82).Credit: U.S. Navy Photo: Journalist 1st Class Jeremy L. Wood/Public Domain/Creative Commons
Will Spain be expected to soon join the important task of ensuring the safe passage of ships in the Red Sea?
Despite Defense Minister Margarita Robles’ denials, NATO expects Spain to play a role alongside the United States in addressing the threat posed by Houthi rebels to maritime navigation.
High-level talks between U.S. and Spanish military officials reportedly suggested possible Spanish involvement.
On Monday, Jan. 8, Gen. Charles Brown, commander of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Teodoro López Calderon, chief of the Spanish Defense Staff, spoke at the Red Sea, where the standoff has resulted in casualties among both rebels and U.S. military personnel. We talked about the unstable situation. .
Spain’s strategic role
Atlantic Alliance sources suggest that Spain will probably make some contribution in the name of logistical support.
This comes amid the Spanish government’s reluctance to openly support the US-led mission, especially given the sensitive political context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
NATO sources have suggested that Spain could use existing operations such as the Marfil and Orion surveillance units to provide covert air support from the coast.
This approach allows Spain to participate subtly without significantly changing its official foreign policy stance.
european perspective
Spain’s Ministry of Defense had previously denied taking part in the new mission, citing its involvement in Operation Atalanta, a piracy surveillance operation in the Indian Ocean.
The operation focuses on monitoring piracy in the Indian Ocean and has already involved significant Spanish resources, including the deployment of the frigate Victoria.
However, the European Union has launched a project to support US efforts in the Red Sea. Despite official denials, NATO sources insist that Spain will eventually play a role in dealing with the Red Sea crisis.
Houthi rebels, with support from Iran and ties to Hamas, have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. These attacks are seen as retaliation for Israel’s military efforts against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The US military operation, dubbed “Guardians of Prosperity,” aims to secure this vital maritime route, which is critical to global trade, amid rising tensions between the United States and Spain.
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