{"id":54729,"date":"2024-02-03T22:25:19","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T21:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=54729"},"modified":"2024-02-08T21:44:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T20:44:50","slug":"the-spanish-contribution-to-the-great-nato-exercise-to-send-a-robust-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/02\/03\/the-spanish-contribution-to-the-great-nato-exercise-to-send-a-robust-message\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spanish contribution to the great NATO exercise to send \u201ca robust message\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most important defense-related events this year will take place in Europe: the Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise.<\/p>\n

The harsh conditions of two Spanish Navy ships in NATO's SNMG-1<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe military contingents that Spain plans to have abroad until December 2024<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

This exercise is going to be the largest maneuvers carried out by NATO since the Cold War<\/strong>, at a time that is very reminiscent of that time, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threats launched by the Kremlin against several allied countries. The exercise will bring together some 90,000 soldiers from the 31 NATO member countries, in addition to Sweden<\/strong>, an unprecedented deployment in recent decades.<\/p>\n

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Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers of the German Army (Photo: Territoriales F\u00fchrungskommando<\/a>).<\/div>\n

\"A robust message\" clearly aimed at Russia<\/big><\/p>\n

In January, General Christopher Cavoli, NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Operations<\/strong> and head of US European Command, announced this exercise<\/a>. The Atlantic Alliance has noted that \"is designed to provide valuable insights for enhancing NATO\u2019s defence plans<\/strong>, improving interoperability, efficiency, and resilience. This effort aims to demonstrate NATO\u2019s commitment to collective defence and send a robust message about its readiness to protect all Allies in the face of emerging threats.<\/strong>\"<\/em> A veiled warning to Russia.<\/p>\n

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Norwegian special forces operators in the first phase of the Steadfast Defender 24 exercise (Photo: NATO Allied SOF Command<\/a>).<\/div>\n

NATO has indicated that this exercise will have several countries as scenarios, expressly citing Finland, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the United Kingdom<\/strong>. The exercise began at the end of January and will end on May 31, 2024, divided into two parts. The initial phase, from late January to mid-March<\/strong>, is focused on maritime reinforcement across the Atlantic and Arctic. The second phase, from mid-February to the end of May<\/strong>, will consist of using reinforcements deployed in all NATO domains from the Arctic to the eastern flank.<\/p>\n

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A Royal Navy F-35B aboard the British aircraft carrier \"Queen Elizabeth\" (Foto: NATO<\/a>).<\/div>\n

Steadfast Defender is a \"multi-domain exercise\" as it will include land, air, sea, cyber and space operations<\/strong>. It is an exercise planned years in advance, according to NATO, with \"the dual purpose of perfecting defense plans and also acting as a deterrent<\/strong> against possible aggression from nearby adversaries\" <\/em>. A new veiled allusion to Russia. NATO, in fact, adds: \"As tensions persist in Eastern Europe, this exercise sends a clear message that NATO is prepared to defend its members<\/strong>, its values, and uphold collective security in the Euro-Atlantic area.\"<\/em><\/p>\n

The Spanish contribution: a frigate and a supply ship<\/big><\/p>\n

Regarding the Spanish contribution to this exercise, at the moment the Ministry of Defense has not commented anything. On January 10, the Navy indicated that the two ships it has deployed with NATO's Permanent Naval Group number 1 (SNMG-1)<\/a>, the frigate \"Almirante Juan de Borb\u00f3n\" F-102 and the Combat Supply Ship (BAC) \"Cantabria\" A-15, plan to participate in this exercise<\/strong>. This week, the Spanish frigate arrived at the port of Stavanger, in southwestern Norway<\/a>, an arrival shown by the Navy in this fast motion video:<\/p>\n

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La fragata 'Almirante Juan de Borb\u00f3n' \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 tambi\u00e9n se encuentra ya en el puerto de Stavanger. La F-102 est\u00e1 integrada actualmente, con el BAC Cantabria, en la @COM_SNMG1<\/a> en el mar B\u00e1ltico\ud83c\udf0a. @Armada_esp<\/a> #MOPS<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/cJN9dYKFIb<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/d1R6mALJ8z<\/a><\/p>\n

— Estado Mayor Defensa \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 (@EMADmde) February 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n