With the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent international landscape – marked by the entangled war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East -, King Felipe VI took advantage yesterday of what was his tenth speech during a Military Easter to praise the work of “surrender and sacrifice” of the armed forces in missions abroad to “create a more stable and secure world”. Unlike last year, when the Russian invasion was described as “brutal and unjustifiable”, this time there was no express mention of Ukraine or Israel. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, was in charge of this, who reminded in Tel-Aviv – in front of the entire military leadership – that the Government of Spain continues to condemn “violations of humanitarian law” in Gaza.
The main military event of the year, in which the previous cycle is taken stock of and the lines of action for the coming months are projected, began at mid-morning in the Plaça de l’Armeria of the Royal Palace. The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, was waiting there, escorted by the head of Defense and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska. In this ceremony, the booing of the socialist leader, unlike the events on October 12, has not been institutionalized. Hundreds of people gathered around the site on the morning of King’s Day: more curious and tourists than people dressed in the Spanish flag.
The national anthem was played, the twenty-one pipes resounded in unison and Felipe VI, in the uniform of Captain General of the Navy, was reviewed accompanied by the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón. The Kings – accompanied by cadet Elionor Borbón Ortiz, who debuted at the military Easter – greeted the 200 guests in the Throne Room. And after imposing twenty decorations, the speeches began.
Robles demanded that there not be a single “silence” regarding violations of the basic principles and rules of international humanitarian law or of the UN Charter, “wherever they take place”. And then, he bluntly condemned these “violations of rights” in Gaza, for which he called for an “immediate” and “permanent” ceasefire. The words of the minister, under the watchful eye of the President of the Central Government, were pronounced just 48 hours after the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, noted a supposed “change for the better” in the statements of the Spanish Executive , which led to the return of Israel’s ambassador to Spain.
There were no more express mentions of the Israeli war, but there was the fear of the regionalization of the conflict. About 700 Spanish soldiers are in southern Lebanon on an international mission under the umbrella of the United Nations. There, the situation, as Defense sources admit, is increasingly “tense” due to the increase in hostility between the Israeli army and the Hizbullah militia. Robles emphasized that the Spanish blue helmets continue to carry out their mission “with a very high efficiency and professionalism” in a scenario “with so much risk”.
The missions abroad were, without a doubt, the protagonists yesterday. Felipe VI made “a special mention” to the 3,000 men and women deployed in the 17 operations abroad. A figure that will increase over the course of the year to exceed 3,500 soldiers deployed internationally, the highest figure ever reached. “They are the best example of Spain’s commitment to international peace and security”, assured the Monarch after reviewing deployments abroad: from the reinforcement of NATO to the eastern flank due to the threat from Russia to the diminished mission of the European Union in Mali to fight against terrorism, through the presence in Iraq.
There was no mention of Spain not in the Red Sea mission favored by the United States. It was as expected, despite the unrest that the Spanish refusal has caused in military circles. Despite this, the head of Defense did emphasize that Spain “always” demonstrates that it is a “serious, responsible and committed” ally. Some words that link to “the important effort” that the King verbalized about the effort that the armed forces are already making.
Philip VI also had words for the Constitution. Although he mentioned it less times than in his past Christmas message. He did it to praise the role of the military in defense “of the framework of coexistence democratically chosen by the Spanish”, alluding to the Magna Carta that 45 years ago “guides the free and democratic path taken” by Spanish citizens.
Although numerous and unusual, the references to the National Intelligence Center (CNI) did not go unnoticed. At the end of the month, the previous director of spies, Paz Esteban, will have to appear before the judge investigating the Pegasus case after the complaint filed by the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, one of the pro-independence leaders who were intercept communications under judicial authorization. They also fly over the research commissions in Congress with the role of the CNI under the microscope. For this reason, Robles – Esteban’s faithful defender – reiterated that the CNI works with “the dedication to serve Spain”. The King also assured that the men and women of the House “are a good reflection of the nobility of the Spanish people”.
