Your Excellency,
It is a special
honour to be with you, Mr President, and all of you here this morning at Getica
JNTC (Joint National Training Centre), and I’m glad to have this opportunity to
express our deepest gratitude for the affection and hospitality shown by both
the authorities and the people of Romania. Not only to us on this trip, but
more specially, on a daily basis, to the Spanish military personnel deployed in
this beautiful country, one with which we share so many ties.
In a time of so
many shifts and uncertainties, the international order is changing, and yet we,
Spain and Romania, are clearly reaffirming our strategic partnership, that was
established in 2013 and is based on the strongest possible link: our peoples.
I am thinking of
the large Romanian community in Spain, over half a million people who are fully integrated members of our
society, who take part in every day’s life and who contribute to our
prosperity. Those who each day help the strengthening of the cultural and
socioeconomic ties that define us.
I am thinking, too,
of our shared vision in the EU, of the initiative and conviction both our
countries show in the ongoing construction of such a grand project, and our
shared sensitivity with respect to so many issues.
I am also thinking
of our membership of the Atlantic Alliance. Our armed forces cooperate in NATO
deterrence and defence operations in Europe. Since 2021, in successive
rotations, Spain’s Air Force has carried out air policing duties with our
fighter planes flying out of the Borcea Fetesti and Mihail Kogalceaun bases in
5 deployments; and on 23 May 2025, the Tigru Tactical Air Detachment (now in
its 8th rotation) reached the 20,000hrs milestone of air policing with its
radar system on NATO's eastern flank.
"...In a time of so many shifts and uncertainties, the international order is changing, and yet we, Spain and Romania, are clearly reaffirming our strategic partnership, that was established in 2013 and is based on the strongest possible link: our peoples...."
These are examples
of Spain's commitment to NATO’s IAMD Integrated Air and Missile Defence
mission, which is part of the Organization's ‘Persistent Effort Operation ’.
This is also the
case of the Spanish Marines Mechanised Tactical Subgroup, which I am visiting
today. Since November last year, this Spanish contingent, as part of the
scalable MNBG lead by FRA, strengthens our presence in Romania and reaffirms
our commitment to this country and to NATO's eastern flank.
Its impact is
evident in terms of security, training and the building of priceless
professional ties between the armies of allied countries. The bonds formed here
will endure, I am sure, throughout the careers of our military personnel. This
is another way of building Europe.
It is in this
spirit and precisely here in Romania, a country that feels every day the
effects of the war in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, where I wish to reaffirm
Spain’s determination to continue our support of the Ukrainian people in
defending those fundamental principles and values that we all share as
Europeans.
Allow me, Mr
President, to say a few words in Spanish to our troops present here, our
marines and airmen.
Queridos compañeros, para mí es un honor especial y una
alegría grande veros aquí desplegados, aunque algo lejos de casa, y hacerlo
junto al Presidente de la Rep de Rumanía, S.E. Nicușor Dan. Y lo es igualmente
poderos transmitir la gratitud y el orgullo de todos, en España, por cómo
estáis desempeñando vuestra misión desde este país amigo y aliado; por cómo
veláis por nuestra seguridad y estabilidad en un momento crucial para la historia
de Europa.
Seguid así: reafirmando, con vuestro sentido del deber,
con vuestra entrega y preparación, el prestigio de nuestro país, de nuestras
FAS, y dándonos a todos aún más motivos de orgullo y de confianza.
Thank you very
much, Mr President, for accompanying me today on this visit, which confirms and
celebrates the many things we share in the framework of the extraordinary work
carried out by this multinational NATO battlegroup.