Robles to the Spanish contingent in Turkey: "You are the sign of our unwavering commitment to NATO"

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, during her visit to the Spanish contingent in Türkiye

The Minister for Defence defined the work of the Spanish military as "fundamental" for both NATO and the Turkish army, adding that "this mission is not only about anti-aircraft defence, but also about sharing experiences and carrying out exercises that allow for constant learning and training". In this regard, Robles pointed out that "this is a very relevant mission, because in addition to responding to the commitment to the Alliance and its missions, the mission in Turkey "acquires a very special importance from the bilateral point of view".

"In these difficult times we are living through, we are learning the importance of air defence. Seeing how they trust us and how they trust Spanish personnel is a source of pride," said the minister in her address to the contingent.

"When there is nobody else there, it is the army that does not fail us. In the most difficult moments, they are always there," said Robles, who saw first-hand the settlement area of the Patriot Unit that Spain has maintained in Turkey since January 2015 as part of the mission that reinforces the country's 24/7 air defence capabilities against possible threats from Syria and Iran, and specifically for the defence of the civilian population of Adana, a city of 2 million inhabitants 120 km from the Syrian border.

As the minister stressed, this is a purely defensive mission, a show of solidarity among NATO allies and an example of collective defence, as well as a firm demonstration of Spain as a "serious, responsible and committed" ally.

The contingent's personnel, who come from the Army's Anti-aircraft Artillery Command, have been under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Fernando María García-Reparaz since 20 December. On 31 January, the mission celebrated the tenth anniversary of its deployment.

Emotional reunion with a rescued family

Robles visited the living area of the Spanish contingent at the base. There, she celebrated an emotional reunion with the Yilmaz family, who were rescued by the EMU after the earthquake that struck south-eastern Turkey in February 2023, in a difficult operation that lasted around 30 hours.

Non official translation