Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall ... - Offnews.info

1. Spain-US RelationsAmong all the directives, the enhancement of Spain-US relations is pivotal to our country.This relation, based on unquestionable historical and cultural bonds, is being strengthened in thepast few years in a robust and balanced manner, on the basis of mutual respect, as it was expressed bythe Defense Minister before the Congress Defense Committee in her first parliamentary appearanceof this legislature on June 30th, 2008.However, from a political viewpoint, our bilateral cooperation in the defense field goes back tothe first agreements signed in 1953. Currently, this cooperation is ruled by the Agreement on DefenseCooperation of December 1st, 1998, revised by the Amendment Protocol of April 10th, 2002, in forcesince February 12th, 2003. This Protocol is valid for 8 years, that is, until February 12th, 2011, and itmay be extended automatically for one-year periods.In fact, my visit to this beautiful city of Washington, takes place on the occasion of the meetingof the High-Level Bilateral Defense Committee, established in 2002. This Committee is the bodyresponsible for carrying out political consultations in the defense field between Spain and the UnitedStates. Its Executive Body has already met in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.In this context, besides the important support that Spain offers to US operations in Europe, Africaand the Middle East, through our Moron and Rota Bases, there are many other scenarios where wework together to bring peace and prosperity to different regions in the world. This joint effort reflectsboth the excellent relationship between our countries, and that we are on the same wavelength.On AfghanistanBoth, Spain and the US, share the lines of NATO’s new strategy for Afghanistan, which arebased in the progressive “afghanization,” the reinforcement of Afghan Security Forces, and thedevelopment of the country. Also, we consider that the regional approach is key to the success ofthis mission.Particularly, Spain is carrying out an important effort in the International Security AssistanceForce (ISAF). Our contingent is about 1,500 (1,477) military personnel of the more than 130,000from 48 countries, which contribute to the improvement of Afghanistan’s security conditions, itsdevelopment and governance.All the allies, including the US, Canada and Spain, among them, and many other allied partners,currently work to fulfill the agreements announced at the last NATO Lisbon Summit: map the transferof responsibilities to Afghan authorities from ISAF, although we are fully conscious, as our Presidentof Government has pointed out, that “the deadlines for the transfer are purely indicative, while theobjectives are unrenounceable.”On the piracy problem off Somali CoastsOn the other hand, Spain and the US support NATO’s engagement in this scenario, through theOCEAN SHIELD operation, in close coordination with the actions of other international actors.In particular, the EU is carrying out the ATALANTA operation in the region. This operation isbeing led again by Spain, and the Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat, took over the forcecommand last December 14th.Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall-Winter Issue / Edicíón Otoño-Invierno 2010 / Edicão Outono-Inverno 2010 / Volume 11 149