interview
are the seventh nation in NATO in
proportion to the size of our popula-tion
and economy and, after Brexit, the
fourth in the European Union.
Moreover, we are consistently the
biggest contributor to military opera-tions
and missions in the EU, and our
soldiers are present in each and every
one of them.
This gives us a moral strength that
ensures our voice is listened to atten-tively.
We are also one of the most ac-tive
countries in shaping the initiatives
underway in the European Union; for
instance, we are one of the countries
participating in more projects in Per-manent
Structured Cooperation.
In NATO, where the United States
holds significant weight, we are also
important contributors; however, in
this case, we are more focused on
the operations and deterrence fields.
Spain is an example of solidarity and
commitment due to
our contribution to
NATO operations
and missions in all
scenarios.
—What are Spain’s
strategic priorities?
—They can only be
those expressed in
the 2017 National
Security Strategy, as
well as those includ-ed
in the Alliance
“The Military
Committee is
proving crucial
to shape the
EU’s defence
initiatives” Lt Gen Montenegro in the cockpit Strategic Concept
and the EU Glob-al
Security Strategy of 2016. Europe
and the transatlantic link are priority
areas of interest for our security and
defence, together with the Mediter-ranean,
Africa and Latin America. As
is the case with our Strategy, I would
stress, in particular, the security, sta-bility
and prosperity of our neighbours
in the southern Mediterranean and the
Maghreb.
More generally, the fight against
terrorism and exporting stability and
security are also essential to us.
In this regard, and although con-ceptually
the priorities of the National
Security Strategy address our commit-ments
to NATO and the EU, I think
they put more emphasis on Europe,
since our threat perception is different
to that of our allies.
—Today, Europe is experiencing an
unprecedented boost to common se-curity
and defence. How does this
impact the EU Military Committee?
—It is a frenetic activity. Spain is firm-ly
committed to moving further in line
with the EU Global Security Strategy,
first through the missions and operations
of the Common Security and Defence
Policy, CSDP, and in the search for sy-
nergies with NATO.
The Military Committee is constantly
discussing the purely military dimen-sion
of all the initiatives resulting from
this impetus, especially with regard to
the Permanent Structured Coopera-tion,
the Coordinated Annual Review
on Defence, the European Defence
Fund and the Military Planning and
Conduct Capability.
All of these are
very dynamic initia-tives,
in the process
of maturation, and
with an important
technical-military
profile. Therefore,
the opinion of the
Military Committee
is particularly rele-vant
to shape them,
bearing in mind that
Member States have
different sensitivi-ties
that should be
contemplated.
I think that it is proving particular-ly
helpful in the three initiatives linked
to capability development —PESCO,
CARD and EDF—, since, in the end,
the idea is to ensure our Armed Forces
have the necessary military capabili-ties
to conduct their missions, either in
the purely national field or within the
international organizations to which
they belong.
—The Military Planning and Conduct
Capability, MPCC, has recently been es-tablished
and it coordinates non-executive
missions. What exactly is it?
—First, I would like to stress that this
capability was established by a Council
decision in June 2017, based on a Span-ish
initiative and with our very active
participation.
The objective is for Brussels to have
a structure capable of carrying out the
planning and conduct of non-executive
missions, that is, those with an advisory
and training role.
This mitigated an important short-fall
in EU military missions, which
was greatly hindering coordination at
military strategic level.
In addition, the establishment of
this permanent structure in Brussels
has enabled the Political and Secu-rity
Committee to exercise political
control and strategic management of
non-executive activities, and to liaise
with the rest of EU structures.
48 Revista Española de Defensa April 2020