Biden describes Spain as an “indispensable ally” and urges him to approve the military reinforcement as soon as possible

The 32nd NATO General Assembly kicks off in Madrid and Spain hosts a “truly unique summit“, historical, perhaps the most important in 70 years of NATO’s life. It is a “indispensable ally“, as defined this Tuesday by the president of the United States, Joe Biden. A few words that are a boost to the Executive of Pedro Sánchez, who, however, also urges him to approve “as soon as possible” the increase in destroyers at the Rota base ( Cádiz). And it is that after Washington’s proposal, it is now the task of the Government and the Courts to materialize this reinforcement of military capacity, and the socialist leader will not have it easy due to the foreseeable resistance of United We Can and his usual parliamentary partners .

Sánchez and Biden met this June 28 for about an hour in Moncloa. At 4:12 p.m., twelve minutes later than the scheduled time, the US president arrived aboard his armored car, the ‘Beast’, and the chief executive received him at the foot of the stairs. They climbed the five steps, greeted the charts, and proceeded to their first formal meeting. After dispatching together, they appeared before the media, without questions, around five in the afternoon. The US president was accompanied by the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken; the head of the pentagon, Lloyd Austinand the White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan. With the socialist leader, for their part, were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, José Manuel Albares and Margarita Robles, who, together with the King, received Biden on the runway, at the Torrejón de Ardoz air base (Madrid), once Air Force One had made landfall (at 15:04).

Before Biden landed in Madrid, from the G-7 meeting in Germany, it was learned that, in a press conference on the plane, Sullivan reported that they would transmit to Sánchez an increase in four to six of the destroyer ships in Rota (Cadiz). The US already advanced in March that this naval base was ready to receive two more ships. This increase proposed by Washington must be approved by the Council of Ministers and then by Parliament. The expansion of cooperation in defense matters is, precisely, one of the points that stands out in the Spain-USA joint declaration agreed by the two leaders. A four-page document that “updates” the Madrid-Washington dialogue, “expands, strengthens and updates the strategic relationship” between both countries, which has not been touched since 2001, for more than two decades, when it was signed by the then responsible for diplomacy, Madeleine Albright and Josep Piqué.

Biden’s visit, then, “marks an important milestone in bilateral relations” between Madrid and Washington, it will strengthen their “transatlantic bond,” Sánchez said. Spain is an “indispensable ally” within NATO, since it joined it 40 years ago, agreed Biden, who described “very warm” the conversation with the chief executive, whom he thanked for his “leadership”. “And today we are together to defend our shared security and emphasize it, strengthening our transatlantic alliance and responding to the challenge we face today,” said the US president. The moment The current situation is key, he continued, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its break with the international norms imposed since World War II, so much so that the US has strengthened its presence in Europe to respond to the Kremlin, in a 360-degree “approach” of NATO.

And in that exercise is framed Biden’s ad reinforcement of Rota’s capacities. That jump from four to six destroyers (which will bring with it the sending of more troops) “will help the bilateral relationship” with Spain and the US hopes that it will be approved “Sooner than later“, “as soon as possible”. Sánchez did mention in his speech the “interest” of Washington to increase its presence in Cádiz, “with the aim of strengthening the collective security of the Alliance”, although obviously he did not give clues as to how the process will be and when will it pass by the table of the Council of Ministers.

Biden also applauded the steps taken by Spain in solidarity with allied countries, including the military reinforcement in Latvia. In that country, Sánchez completed, Madrid has doubled its presence: the contingent now amounts to 592 troops. In addition, Navy ships maintain their presence. Spain participates, in total, with deployments in five Alliance missions, with a total of 1,477 soldiers.

NATO, Biden noted, “is becoming stronger against threats coming from the east and the south”, “is focused on all domains from all directions, by land, sea and air”. Some very significant words for Sánchez, who wants the Madrid summit to come out with a commitment from the allies to attend not only to the eastern flank, against Russia, but also to the southern neighbourhood. In fact, he himself also said it before the US president, highlighting the importance of the organization acting with that “360-degree” look.

Related news

Biden and Sánchez also discussed sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine, how to continue “squeezing” Russia with more sanctions, and thanked Spain for “support and welcome” to the 140,000 Ukrainian refugees who have traveled to here, an exhibition that reflects “the spirit of determination of the Spanish people and their leadership in times of crisis”.

The two leaders also talked about their collaboration in a region of the world important to both, Latin America and the Caribbean, for the strengthening of “democracy, the rule of law and economic prosperity.” But Biden also looked south again: “We look forward to doing more together in Africa to promote stability and economic growth.”