E. SPAIN: MANY FORMS OF COOPERATION
1. An indispensable partner
Spain is one of the States most committed to European defence cooperation. In a speech to the European Parliament in January 2019, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for the creation of “a true European army , ” emphasising that “the Union must show that it is a soft power by choice, and not because of weakness.” Nevertheless, the country's 2017 National Security Strategy specifically states that the Transatlantic Alliance remains the “foundation of European collective defence.”
In fact, Spain is among the leading States in terms of troops allocated to the missions and operations of the Common Security and Defence Policy. In particular, it has been in command of the maritime operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta since 29 March 2019, and hosts its headquarters at its naval base in Rota (Andalusia). Four Spanish ships participated in this operation in 2018. Moreover, a Spanish general took command of the military training mission EUTM Mali in 2018, to which a total of 1,007 Spanish soldiers were assigned.
Spain provides support for projects intended to strengthen the CSDP, including the establishment of the European Defence Fund and a permanent capacity for planning and operational leadership. It was also one of the founding members of the European Intervention Initiative , launched by France in 2018.
2. A partner with an eye on the south
Spain identifies as one of the main threats to its territory the proximity of failed or unstable States where criminal or terrorist armed groups operate, as well as the destabilisation caused by illegal migration flows. It regularly advocates for NATO and the EU to take into account the challenges and threats facing the southern flank of Europe.
Spain has a particular interest in the Mediterranean - North Africa - Sahel continuum:
- in the Mediterranean, the Spanish Navy actively participates in operation Sea Guardian (a total of 401 soldiers in 2018) and strongly supports the continuation of Operation EUNAVFOR Med Sophia , to which it is one of the main contributors;
- in North Africa and the Sahel:
* In addition to its operational commitment to EUTM Mali, Spain provides logistical support, including air transport, to UN, EU and French operations (Barkhane) from its bases in Gabon and Senegal;
* Spain's Navy works closely with neighbouring nations, and participates in the French Operation Corymbe in the Gulf of Guinea;
* under bilateral agreements, the Spanish Armed Forces conduct training and assistance activities in Cape Verde, Senegal, Mauritania and since 2017 in Tunisia as well;
* Spain is also participating in counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside NATO.
Spain is also involved in a NATO advanced forward presence battalion in Latvia, and in Alliance air and anti-missile defence in Lithuania, Turkey and the Mediterranean. It also participates in the UN missions in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Colombia. On average, over 2018, there were 2,500 Spanish troops simultaneously deployed outside the national territory, at a cost of €1.1 billion.
However, Spain has a limited military budget , estimated at €11.5 billion in 2019 or 0.92% of its GDP, the rising trend in which was broken by the economic crisis of 2008. In January 2018, the government announced its intention to step up its defence efforts and replace the portion of its equipment and weapon systems that has become obsolete. Its budgetary efforts are expected to reach 1.53% of GDP in 2035. Among the priority projects are the construction of its new F-110 frigates, commissioning its S-80 submarines, and expected replacement of its combat aircraft.
3. Franco-Spanish cooperation
France sees Spain as a very close partner in defence matters. The Franco-Spanish Defence and Security Council (CFEDS) was created in 2006; it has taken concrete form via various agreements on defence cooperation, and since 2013, by a roadmap particularly emphasising ambitions for greater alignment of operational capabilities in areas of common interest (the Sahel, the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Guinea - see above) and for strong European defence. In 2017, the two governments reiterated their commitment to strengthening the CSDP.
Spain and France are also conducting joint core capacity projects , notably the European MALE drone project and the Tigre attack helicopter modernisation project. In 2018, Madrid decided to acquire 23 helicopters from the NH90 programme, conducted cooperatively by four European States (France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands).
In March 2019, Spain joined the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, which is intended to replace the current fleet of combat aircraft by 2035. A natural market might be found here, in connection with Spain's intended replacement of its fighter jet fleet, particularly the EAV-8B Harrier II. Nevertheless, in light of its operational constraints, the Spanish government has not yet ruled out the possibility of purchasing American F-35s.
Spain is a major political, operational and industrial partner for France, one we must rely upon in order to advance European defence.