In the military and diplomatic sphere they cannot stop being astonished at Spain's refusal to participate in the international mission in the Red Sea to protect commercial maritime transport from attacks by the Houthi rebels of Yemen. High military commanders consider it “inconceivable” that Spain is excluded, after the Government reiterates that “we are a reliable partner” of the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance. “Now that the economic interests of the Spanish people are at stake – in the face of a foreseeable rise in prices; Spain puts itself in profile with strange excuses,” says an Army general.
Last Thursday, after the United States included Spain among the countries participating in the international mission, no one in the Defense Staff doubted that the armed forces would be part – in one way or another – of the deployment in the Red Sea. . It would not be “unilateral” as the Ministry of Defense already warned, but “it would be under the umbrella of the European Union or NATO,” according to military sources, who were betting on expanding the mandate of Operation Atalanta. The presence of Spain by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also taken for granted: Spanish soldiers defending shippers bound for or leaving Israel could alleviate the open diplomatic crisis with Tel Aviv.
After days of diffuse communications, the ministry led by Margarita Robles was committed to creating a new European mission – ruling out reorienting Atalanta, focused on the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean – but at the same time, it ruled out the Spanish imprint on the mission.
This hypothetical new mission would need the endorsement of the Congress of Deputies. This would be the political obstacle that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, is not willing to overcome. Not only would a gap be opened within the Government with Sumar, but the refusal of parliamentary allies such as ERC and EH Bildu in these matters would force them to resort to the seats of the Popular Party to carry out the mission abroad, as as established by law. In the previous legislature, many of the internal battles in the Council of Ministers were fought between PSOE and Unidas Podemos over the shipment of weapons to Ukraine after the Russian invasion broke out or the increase in defense spending committed to NATO.
Although that is the political reading, the military personnel consulted, who do not consider partisan disputes, go further. Without knowing the details of the international mission, the senior commanders consulted do not doubt that the next military operations to guarantee free maritime transit in the Red Sea will not be limited – simply – to escorting ships bound for Israel.
Shippers and oil tankers are being attacked with anti-ship missiles or drones from areas controlled by the Houthis. Detecting those points from which the rebels launch attacks will be one of the priorities. Once located, “wait for the order”, as the same sources advance. And this war scenario is, as they consider, one in which the Government does not want to be involved. “It is a pure contradiction because the men and women who make up the armed forces are trained for war, in defense of national interests,” criticizes another lieutenant general, who for years fought against pirates in Somali waters.
