The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, with the commanders and the Spanish contingent stationed at the NATO Joint Allied Command Headquarters in Naples
A total of 71 Spaniards (67 men and four women) currently form part of one of NATO's three headquarters (along with Brunssum and Norfolk) that plan and conduct military operations to preserve peace, security and territorial integrity in Alliance member countries.
This makes the Spanish personnel the sixth largest contingent at the headquarters and corresponds to the high degree of commitment of our Armed Forces to Alliance operations.
Margarita Robles emphasised this fact, referring to the Spanish presence as essential and important leadership, exercised within the framework of a robust commitment to NATO in terms of deterrence. She also described the qualities of outstanding military personnel that enable them to exercise this leadership: "Effectiveness, preparedness and empathy".
Monitoring activities
Naples HQ has been the coordinating authority for all surveillance activities in its area of responsibility (south-eastern flank) since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, including Operation Neptune Strike, in which the Daedalus 24 Expeditionary Group has been involved.
Other activities carried out by this HQ include NATO Mission Iraq, KFOR (UN Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo) and the Romanian Airspace Protection Support Mission (Southern Shield).
The Spanish Armed Forces have taken part in all these operations, to which will now be added a tactical sub-group of Marine Infantry, made up of 250 troops, which will join the Romanian Battle Group.
The minister, who travelled there together with Lieutenant General Francisco Braco, Commander of the Operations Command, was received by the Spanish Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, Miguel Ángel Fernández-Palacios, the Head of the JFCNP Plans Division and senior Spanish Navy Rear Admiral, Francisco Asensi, and the Spanish Consul General in Naples, Marta Vadillo.
Non official translation
