Margarita Robles: 'It is a source of pride to know that much of international security bears a Spanish stamp'

The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, welcomed the personnel of the second rotation of Contingent A/T XXIII (Operation 'Support to Türkiye') in Seville. This is the contingent's final rotation, and at the welcome ceremony, Margarita Robles took the opportunity to praise the work of the Armed Forces abroad.

For more than a decade, the Spanish Armed Forces have been working to provide security guarantees in Türkiye, with the deployment not only of personnel but also of a 'Patriot' battery, which "is highly valued by the authorities".

The Spanish contingent, comprising 138 military personnel, is working in the area every day to protect the airspace. "Over the last few months, they have faced difficult situations and their work has been vital in minimising risks and incursions resulting from the crisis in the Middle East," said Minister for Defence Margarita Robles.

"Thank you for your work," said the minister, who expressed her gratitude to the families, noting that "without you, these missions would not be possible. Your support and empathy are also a fundamental and much-needed part of our Armed Forces".

The military personnel of the second rotation of the A/T XXIII contingent are returning after a six-month deployment in Türkiye, where Spain has continuously maintained a 'Patriot' battery since January 2015.

The Spanish contingent is stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Adana as part of the mission to bolster the country's air defence capabilities 24 hours a day, within the framework of NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence.

Non official translation