Navy is increasing its strength in the Aegean Sea to stop advanced Russia. spain

Prevention, prevention and prevention. This is the word that was heard most on decks, stairs and in nooks on Monday Juan Carlos I, head of the Spanish Navy. Deployed in the waters of Souda (north of the Greek island of Crete), escorted by the Majestic aircraft carrier – frigate blas de lezo– Daedalus-24, with a part of the expeditionary force, has been sailing for a month in the Mediterranean to support NATO surveillance in an international context marked by the war in Ukraine and the Russian threat. Daedalus has just joined exercise NEST-24 (Neptune Strike), some maneuvers under the auspices of NATO that EL PAÍS observed for a day.

“The objective is to show Spain’s commitment to NATO, the EU and the deterrence and defense of the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Baltic,” says Rear Admiral Gonzalo Villar, commander of Dedalo-24, who is escorting from the middle deck two of the seven Harriers and dozens of With a spectacular display of all types of weapons and military equipment guarded by marines; Most of them, with Andalusian accent. On the other hand, many infantrymen turn the other end of the deck into an improvised gym. There is constant activity on board the ship.

Since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, coalition partners have drawn military force on land, sea and air – particularly over the eastern part of Europe – as part of a common defense and deterrence strategy. According to analysts, a major summer offensive is underway, for which Ukraine is not yet considered ready. But while the aid promised by Washington and Brussels reaches Kiev, Spain and other NATO partners such as Italy, France, Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia are already sending warning signals with their presence in this maritime line of the alliance and their amphibious exercises. Sending: “We are here to avoid confrontation (with deterrence) with Russia,” Villar declared.

While the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, outlined the future of Ukraine with a certain optimism – “It is not too late for Ukraine to win (the war against Russia)”, the Norwegian predicted –, the Spanish Navy Gained muscle in this part of the Mediterranean. At noon and in bright sunlight, a rumbling sound indicated that the Harrier fighters were warming up their engines. In the words of the Rear Admiral, five of these American-made aircraft took off from the very short runway on the ship’s deck (232 m) in a demonstration of “the military capability that Spain can contribute to the partners of the Atlantic Alliance”. , And, when the time comes, to Kiev. And “Ukraine will be a member of NATO when the time is right,” Stoltenberg warned during a visit to the invaded country’s capital on Monday. But until then, the West’s line is to support Kiev militarily and economically without allied troops without entering into a direct war with Moscow. Indeed, last week, Spain announced the shipment of an unspecified number of Patriot air defense missiles as part of aid to Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces.

Silence after a long, vigorous aerial display. Harriet’s vertical landing – a complex and astonishing descent, characterized by the complete stillness that occurs after her wheels touch the runway – began the amphibious phase of Exercise NEST-24. That means landing in enemy territory to capture the beach. After descending several decks on spiral staircases and amidst a mixture of tar and smell Potato with choco (menu of the day) aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I It sinks about two meters so that water can get inside. With a system of docks at the stern, the four LCM boats begin to leave the open sea. This type of transport, consisting of platforms with a surface area of ​​about 100 square meters, is responsible for crossing the waves, transporting semi-armored vehicles and 175 marines with all their equipment – ​​anti-tank missiles and batteries. Mortars, night vision, all the material for sappers (detecting and neutralizing mines), communications, equipment to withstand nuclear, biological, chemical and radioactive attacks, and even a dog, Laika, an expert in detecting explosives, heads to the beach with the aim of taking it. And what is relevant about this ship is its “versatility”, as Commander Ricardo Gómez Delgado put it. Juan Carlos I On a visit organized by the Operations Command of the Defense Staff to which EL PAÍS has been invited.

Spanish presence in the Adriatic and Baltic

Spain not only has a presence in this part of the Aegean. Another Navy Daedalus group conducts similar maneuvers off the coast of Albania. the ship is present in the adriatic Galicia and frigate queen sophia, Both NEST-24 exercises, which will involve one French, one Italian and one Turkish aircraft carrier, will end on May 10. So he Juan Carlos IAfter stopping in Spain (Rota and Gijón), the voyage will continue towards the Atlantic and Baltic as part of the commitment to common defence.

There Juan Carlos I Will be the protagonist and witness of the latest NATO expansion. The following June, another force exercise, BALTOPS-24, coincided with Juan Carlos I It will have a helicopter and several Swedish pilots and officers. The exercise will conclude with a display by the Finnish Navy in Helsinki. Sweden had formally joined NATO just a month earlier and Finland had done so a year earlier as a result of the threat posed by its proximity to Russia. Rear Admiral Villar summarized, “We are covering the entire maritime front of the alliance.”

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