Spanish warships will strengthen NATO's naval forces in the Black Sea

In response to the call of NATO Command, the Spanish Ministry of Defence decided to send three warships to the Black Sea due to the increased tension and risk of Russian assault on Ukraine. Spanish fighters will go to Bulgaria.

On Saturday a rocket frigate "Blas de Lezo" came out of Galicia port. It is to join NATO's Group of 2 Permanent Maritime Forces (SNMG2). Before sailing towards the Black Sea, the ship will first stop at the U.S.-Spanish naval base in Rota (Cadiz)," reported Captain Gonzalo Leira quoted by the newspaper "La Razon". There are 200 soldiers aboard the frigate.

Wednesday, this ship It will head towards the western Mediterranean, where it will join the squadron under the Italian multitasking frigate "Carlo Margottini". The squadron also includes a Turkish rocket frigate of type Gabya, TCG Göksu (F-497).

The departure of the frigate "Blas de Lezo" was initially planned for mid-February, but it was accelerated after NATO's appeal to urgently supplement the contingent of the maritime alliance.

On Monday, a naval ship "Meteoro" sailed from La Palma port with a 65-man crew on board. For the next six months, he will be in charge of the Natatian mine group. By a few weeks, he also accelerated the departure to the sea from the port of Carthage (Murcia) destroyer min "Sella" with 45 sailors on board. The ship will sail east next week.

The decision to send Spanish naval forces near the borders of Russia contributes to Spain's strengthening of the permanent forces of the Atlantic Alliance," stressed the Ministry of Defence in its Communication. On Thursday, the head of the ministry, Margarita Robles, declared that "Spain will not only maintain its previous tasks within the NATO mission, but will also strengthen its participation in the context of the crisis in relations with Russia.

The journal "La Razon" also states that, in accordance with the decision of the Ministry, Spain will engage in a mission to protect the integrity of Bulgaria's airspace (the so-called Air Police) as a Member State of the North Atlantic Pact. Six Eurofighter Typhoon multitasking fighters and 130 soldiers will be deployed to the Black Sea to power NATO's rapid response forces in the region.

As of 2017, he recalls "La Razon" – a 350-man military contingent from Spain is present in the Baltic States. From spring, Spanish aircraft will resume monitoring of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Written by Grażyna Opińska/PAP