Meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Amsterdam

Pedro Morenés advocates a common defence "because the threat and risks are real"

2016.2.5

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In his speech, the Minister for Defence advocated "a common defence tied to security, because the threat and risks are real". Furthermore, Pedro Morenés committed to a major defence policy and requested a debate on the issue of defence as part of the European Councils.

At the work sessions, the delegations analysed cooperation on defence issues and tackled issues related to operations and missions under the Common Defence and Security Policy.

The meeting was also attended by the Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, who expressed the importance of the two institutions working more closely in order to tackle the hybrid threats and instability to the south.

Spain heads up the NATO 'SNMG-1'

In the afternoon, the Minister for Defence visited the frigate 'Álvaro de Bazán', currently the command vessel of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1), until April when it will be relieved by the frigate 'Méndez Nuñez'.

Once on-board the frigate Álvaro de Bazán, the minister highlighted the importance of this mission as an example of Spain's commitment to global security and to our allies. To this end, he underlined that Spain currently commands the Standing NATO Maritime Group One, which heads up air policing in the Baltic and spearheads NATO. He stressed that Spain wishes to be among the leading nations in terms of security.

Spain has been heading up the allied naval forces in 2016 following the ceremony held in December 2015 in Cartagena, at which Rear Admiral José Enrique Delgado Roig took over command of the group from the Portuguese Vice-Admiral, Alberto Manuel Silvestre.

The frigate Alvaro de Bazán, with a crew of 180 men and women, incorporates the International Military Staff of the SNMG-1, an embarked air unit, an operational security team of marines and a back-up healthcare personnel unit.

During the deployment, the frigate Álvaro de Bazán plans to take part in the international exercises 'Joint Warrior' and 'Dynamic Guard' and will visit various ports in the Eastern Atlantic.

The British frigate 'HMS Iron Duke' and the combat supply vessel 'Cantabria' form part of the SNMG-1 together with the frigate 'Álvaro de Bazán'.

The SNMG-1 group is a multinational naval force made up of various allied countries that are permanently available to NATO, with capacity to take part in operations, both in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict, together with other activities.