Robles visits the 650 Spanish troopers deployed in Latvia in a NATO operation The go to takes place within the midst of a debate about sending tanks to Ukraine It is the primary time that Spain has deployed this kind of functionality on a mission overseas.
Just 180 kilometers from the Russian border, the six Spanish Leopard 2E tanks deployed for a number of months in Latvia by the Army are maneuvering.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles has traveled to the Adazi detachment in Latvia within the midst of a debate about sending tanks to the battle in Ukraine. Spain has deployed 80 armored autos in Latvia, together with six Leopards, 14 ‘Pizarro’ autos and 15 of the so-called ‘TOA’ (Armoured Caterpillar Transport), that are among the many oldest that the Spanish military has.
It is the primary time that Spain has deployed this kind of capabilities in a mission overseas.
650 Spanish troopers 180 km from Russia
Spain has 650 troopers in Latvia, twice as many as a 12 months in the past. Our nation participates there in NATO’s Enhanced Advanced Presence (eFP). It is a world battalion of two,000 troopers led by Canada. Spain is the nation that contributes essentially the most troopers.
The battle in Ukraine has made it crucial to strengthen troops in key areas. NATO requested allies to extend troops and capabilities. For this cause, along with troops and armored personnel, Spain has deployed an Anti-Aircraft Defense Unit (UDAA), primarily based on a NASAMS Battery, Sapper Combat Vehicles (VCZ), ‘Spike’ anti-tank missiles and a ‘Raven’ drone.
The Leopard tank debate
The tanks deployed in Latvia are essentially the most fashionable that the Spanish military has, the Leopard 2E. The ones that Spain can be contemplating sending to Ukraine are an older mannequin, the 2A4. Our nation has 53 of them on the Casetas base in Zaragoza, the place Logistics Support Group No. 41 (AALOG 41) is situated.
Those Leopards have been out of use for a decade, and it might take weeks to convey them in control. In addition, not all of the sequestered tanks could possibly be reused. Some would solely serve to extract items.
At the second Spain has not talked in regards to the variety of tanks to ship, though it did discuss in regards to the variety of Ukrainian troopers who may obtain coaching to deal with these armored autos. There can be about 50 troops who can be skilled in our nation.