Mariano Rajoy sends Christmas greetings to Spanish servicemen deployed overseas

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

In his message to the troops from the Department of National Security of the Office of the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy was accompanied by the Minister for Defence, María Dolores de Cospedal, and by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Admiral Fernando García Sánchez.

This message was a display by the President of the Government of the support of the government and of the whole of Spanish society to the personnel deployed overseas.

Fundamental value for Spanish foreign action

Mariano Rajoy highlighted that few countries can lay claim to having their armed forces deployed over five continents, naval operations from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and air operations over both the Baltic countries and Gabon. The balance of the operations that Spain carries out overseas includes surveillance in unstable territories, unsafe waters and assisting allied that need support. All of this constitutes "a fundamental value for Spain's foreign action and an example to all our citizens".

The President of the Government particularly remembered the families of those servicemen deployed overseas. "The ultimate sense of your mission lies here, in Spain". As he does every year, the President of the Government stressed that "you must come home and your mission does not end until you are back in Spain safe and sound".

The video-conference established a simultaneous connection with 18 different locations around the globe in which servicemen and members of the Spanish law enforcement agencies are located. The heads of the contingent responded to the message from the President of the Government.

2,174 servicemen on international missions

There are currently 2.174 servicemen and members of the State law enforcement agencies on 15 international missions in 16 different countries spread over four continents. Of their work undertaken, particularly noteworthy is the rescue of more than 8,400 immigrants at sea, spotting more than 450 vessels from Spanish aircraft and the training of close on 17,000 Iraqi personnel.

Among the missions overseas, worthy of mention is the team of observers deployed in Colombia, which serves as an example of Spain's commitment to the peace process in the country.

Spain's commitment

All of these examples show Spain's commitment to collective security mechanisms and peacekeeping. By doing this, Spain maintains its responsibility as a supportive and loyal partner on the international stage.

The National Security Strategy, approved by the President of the Government in May 2013, establishes the defence of Spanish interests and shared values by virtue of our membership of such international organisations as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union as one of the goals in the field of national defence.

Spain maintains its commitment to a collective security system based on our integration in international organisations and through active participation in overseas operations.