In a recent videoconference from the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to the security of the eastern flank and the Middle East, key regions for Euro-Atlantic stability.
During the meeting, Robles communicated with Lieutenant Colonel Leonardo Toledo, head of the ‘NATO IAMD- Persistent Effort’ operation in Turkey, where Spain has been participating with a ‘Patriot’ battery at Incirlik Air Base since 2015.
The minister highlighted the symbolic importance of this air defense mission, especially in the context of an “unstable calm” in the region’s geopolitics. Although there have been no launches affecting Turkey since the ceasefire, the Spanish contingent, composed of 138 military personnel, continues with constant monitoring of allied airspace, adapting its tasks to the new reality following the events of February 2026.
Regarding the ‘NATO Mission Iraq’ (NMI), its situation has evolved into a reconfiguration phase, with a command core at the ‘Joint Force Command’ in Naples, where 23 of the 66 personnel are Spanish. Minister Robles assured that Spain will maintain its operational support in this mission, which includes the participation of Lieutenant General Ramón Armada and other senior defense officials, who also participated in the videoconference.
