NATO Lauds Spain’s Role in Building Security in Afghanistan
Visiting Spain on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal and praised the country’s important contributions to the Alliance.
According to NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Spain for its contributions to NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Latvia and its important role in building security in Afghanistan, including with more troops for the Resolute Support Mission.
He noted that Spain hosts missile defence ships at its base in Rota, helps protect Turkey against missile threats from Syria and provides specialised training in Iraq on countering improvised explosive devices.
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The Secretary General also welcomed Spain’s plans for significant increases in defence investments and encouraged the country to continue on this path. “This is key for fairer burden-sharing and for keeping our people safe,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Secretary General visited the new facilities of the NATO Centre of Combined Air Operations in Torrejón, and met with President Mariano Rajoy Brey and Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis Quecedo. The Secretary General outlined the Alliance’s continued adaptation to a challenging security environment, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Brussels.
The Secretary General also had an audience with King Felipe VI. His visit to Spain ends with a speech at the Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa Nacional in Madrid.
Courtesy: NATO
