Margarita Robles: "The importance of the role of the Spanish Armed Forces is indisputable and unquestionable"

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, during a videoconference with the heads of contingents deployed in Latvia and Slovakia

The soldiers deployed in the various international missions are an example of professionalism. This is backed by the confidence and praise of the countries in which Spain participates as a member of a deployment. This is the case for Latvia and Slovakia. The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, held a videoconference with the heads of the contingents that carry out deterrence and defence tasks in these countries, stating that "the importance of the role played by Spanish troops on the Eastern Flank is indisputable and unquestionable."

The Defence Minister encouraged those who are deployed because "their work makes Spain a reliable partner and a point of reference in the NATO framework, where the leadership and capabilities of our country's Armed Forces are a mirror in which other nations look."

"No one doubts that we are living through complicated times, just as no one doubts Spain's contribution within NATO and the European Union, with personnel, machinery and experience that confirm our commitment, as a country, to peace and freedom," said Robles.

Spain is present in 15 countries with nearly 4,000 deployed military personnel whose capacity, interoperability and experience have earned them a first-rate international prestige, which has led to our country being responsible for the command of NATO, UN and EU missions.

Margarita Robles stressed that NATO must be supported and defended because the threats will continue to exist.

Missions and objectives

The NATO mission in Slovakia is a key component of the defence and deterrence strategy in Eastern Europe, which is based on working with local armed forces, contributing to regional stability, protecting the Allied space and providing a coordinated response to any potential threat.

Spain's presence and activities on Slovakian soil are a guarantee of peace, prosperity and growth, given that it contributes capabilities to the collective defence, deterrence and protection of Europe as a whole.

In the Multinational Brigade, in addition to Spanish troops, there are contingents from Czechia, Slovenia and Portugal, which will be expanded at the beginning of 2026, with the inclusion of units from Slovakia and Romania.

In Latvia, Spain has had a troop presence since 2017 in the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission, whose main task is deterrence and defence on the Eastern European flank.

Some 550 army troops are deployed in Adazi, of which 358 are part of the Multinational Battalion, while 87 soldiers are deployed at the Lievarde base with an Air Defence Unit.

Non official translation