Geostrategic and Maritime Conditions in Spain
On March 11, 2016, INCIPE hosted a Working Breakfast titled Geostrategic and Maritime Conditions in Spain. Keynote speakers included Mr. Alejandro Alvargonzález, Secretary General of Defense Politics (SEGENPOL); Admiral José María Treviño, member of the INCIPE’s board of trustees; and Mr. Alejandro Klecker de Elizalde, President of NAVALMIL.
The emergence of new risks and threats, many of which have hybrid characteristics and well as a global scope, has severely threatened international security. In an increasingly interrelated world, collateral risks and damages are inevitable. The European Union of today is a clear example of this with the refugee crisis, the financial and economic crises, the continent’s identity and crises and, finally, the shift of United States’ interests toward Asia. All of this has caused the responsibility of European geopolitics to suddenly fall back on the countries of the region, which have been striving to make deterrence their main weapon.
The surge of new global and regional powers, with their own individual interests and even different priorities, is determining the new global scene. The main consequence is the weakening of borders, leading to the end of internal and external security as we know it.
In this context, Spain stands as a country with a privileged geostrategic position; it counts on the most ancient borders of the European Union, controls both ends of the Straight of Gibraltar, owns the forgotten island of Alborán, and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Spain has two safety belts for the defense of its territory, where criminal and terrorist groups mix in a region with a worldview conflicting with that of Western nations; the first situated in Northern Africa and the second the Sahel region as a whole.
Spain has carried out five naval security strategies for its protecion:
1. Security in the country’s exclusive maritime zone.
2. Support neighboring countries secure their maritime zones.
3. Cooperate in the southern Mediterranean, bilaterally as in the case of Morocco or multilaterally with the 5+5 Group.
4. Participation in OTAN encomendadas activities.
5. Cooperation with those countries that share common values, identities, or interests, such as in the case of Latin America.
Spain’s privileged geopolitical situation allows it to have geological boundaries, although they are not sufficiently taken advantage of. One-third of the world’s maritime routes pass through the country, it contains 48 commercial ports, diverse strategically-situated islands, controls the Straight of Gibraltar, and is one of the principle exit sites toward America. What is the problem? A lack of military infrastructure is Spain’s weakness. Historically, Spain’s foreign policy axis has focused on three regions— Latin America, Europe, and the Maghreb—while forgetting to strengthen its own territory, especially at the naval level.
Military culture is hardly present in Spain’s public opinion, which conflicts with its favorable view of the Armed Forces. Therefore, attaining smooth communication and empathy with public opinion is another aspect to develop. Spain’s geographic situation is a strength as well as a weakness, given the vulnerability of its borders. Without sufficient capacities, it is complicated to develop a good security and defense strategy; this can trigger dangerous and unnecessary situations in the current unstable situation. All of this is embodied by the book La Mar y España (The sea and Spain), written by a group of Army Officials with extensive experience. In the novel, the authors convey everything thus far to civil society, called to share the vital importance of their work for Spain.
Members of diverse fields attended the Working Breakfast, most significantly members of various governments and embassies, as well as International Relations experts. The event ended with a questionnaire, where attendees shared different perspectives, especially regarding potential strategies under current circumstances.
Marina Dorado
INCIPE
