Against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent international panorama – marked by the entrenched war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East –, King Felipe VI yesterday took advantage of what was his tenth speech during a Military Easter to praise the work ” of dedication 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 were no express mentions of Ukraine or Israel. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, took charge of this, reminding Tel Aviv – in front of the entire military leadership – that the Government of Spain continues to condemn “the violations of humanitarian law” in Gaza.

The main military event of the year, in which the previous cycle is reviewed and the lines of action for the coming months are projected, began at around mid-morning in the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, was waiting there, escorted by the Minister 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 near the venue on the cold morning of Three Kings’ Day: more curious people and tourists than people dressed in the Spanish flag.

The national anthem was heard, the twenty-one cannon shots thundered against a radiant sun and Felipe VI, in the uniform of a captain general of the Navy, reviewed accompanied by the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón. The Kings – accompanied by the cadet Leonor Borbón Ortiz, who made her debut at Military Easter – greeted the 200 guests in the Throne Room. And after imposing around twenty decorations, the speeches began.

Robles demanded that there be not a single “silence” in the face of violations of the basic principles and rules of international humanitarian law or the UN Charter, “regardless of where they occur.” And then, without any hot air, he condemned those “violations of rights” in the Gaza Strip, for which he called for an “immediate” and “permanent” ceasefire. The minister’s words, under the watchful eye of the President of the Government, were spoken just 48 hours after the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, noted an alleged “change for the better” in the statements of the Executive, which caused the return of the Israeli ambassador in Spain.

There were no more express mentions of the Israeli war, but there were fears of regionalization of the conflict. And some 700 Spanish soldiers remain in the south of 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 highlighted that the Spanish blue helmets continue to carry out their mission “with 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” of the 3,000 men and women deployed in the 17 operations abroad. A figure that will increase throughout the year until it exceeds 3,500 soldiers deployed internationally, the highest figure ever reached. “They are the best example of Spain’s commitment to international peace and security,” said the Monarch after reviewing the deployments abroad: from the reinforcement of NATO on the eastern flank in the face of the Russian threat to the diminished mission of the European Union in Mali to fight against terrorism, including its presence in Iraq.

There were no mentions of Spain’s “no” to the mission in the Red Sea sponsored by the United States. It was expected, despite the discomfort that the Spanish refusal has caused among military spheres. However, the Defense Minister did emphasize that Spain “always” demonstrates that it is a “serious, responsible and committed” ally. Some words that are linked to “the important effort” that the king verbalized about the effort that the armed forces are already making.

Felipe VI also had words for the Constitution. Although he mentioned her less times than in his last Christmas message. He did so to praise the role of the military in defense “of the framework of coexistence democratically chosen by the Spanish,” in reference to the Magna Carta that has been “guiding the free and democratic path taken” by Spanish citizens for 45 years.

The references to the National Intelligence Center (CNI) did not go unnoticed due to their numerous and unusual nature. At the end of the month, the former director of the spies, Paz Esteban, must appear before the judge investigating the Pegasus case after the complaint filed by the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, one of the independence leaders who were intervened. communications under judicial authorization. The investigative commissions in Congress also fly over with the role of the CNI under magnifying glass. For this reason, Robles – a faithful defender of Esteban – reiterated that the CNI works with “the dedication to serve Spain.” The King also assured that the men and women of La Casa “are a good reflection of the nobility of the Spanish people.”