A debate: Spain's security and defence challenges

The Director of the Department of International Relations, Emilio Sáenz-Francés, gave an introductory analysis of the complex international situation and the role that Spain must play in this scenario. Sáenz-Francés stressed that "we find ourselves in a world marked by drastic changes in the balance of power, from the consolidation of the liberal order to the resurgence of isolationist and authoritarian tendencies. With Donald Trump's rise to power in the US, the stability of traditional alliances such as NATO has been called into question, and Europe is faced with the need to strengthen its strategic autonomy".

The Brigadier General went on to discuss the historical journey from the Westphalian system to the current crisis of international order, passing through the Hobbesian conception of geopolitics as a "jungle" where national interests prevail. He also highlighted how, after the Cold War, the world became unipolar under US hegemony, consolidating the "American peace", especially after the invasion of Iraq in 2001. However, the current process of de-democratisation and the rise of revisionist powers are challenging this model, he pointed out.

Spain in the new geopolitical landscape

After the break, two round-table discussions were held on Spain's role in the field of defence in this global context. Both Colonel José María Pardo de Santallana, Research Coordinator and Senior Analyst at the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE), and Colonel José Luis Calvo, Director of the Coordination and Studies Division, General Secretariat of Defence Policy, Ministry of Defence, stressed that the country is called upon to lead Europe's southern flank in security matters, but faces serious limitations, especially in terms.

In the second round table, made up of Soledad Garrido, Director of Aerospace Business Development Spain at Thales; Elena Morgade, Director of Defence and National Security at the Oesía Group, and Marta Nogueira, Vice President of Business Spain at Airbus Defence and Space, pointed out that defence spending has been minimal for years and that a twenty-year plan is needed to manage military capabilities. They also addressed the country's structural shortcomings in this area, highlighting that the Armed Forces have between 120,000 and 140,000 troops, which is an inadequate number for the current challenges. In addition, weaknesses were identified in key areas such as electronic warfare, anti-aircraft capabilities and command and control systems.

Beyond the purely technical aspects, the experts agreed on the need to foster a true defence culture in Spanish society. "It is not just the military, but society as a whole. It is essential that we understand the importance of security to guarantee our stability and future," they concluded.

Brigadier General Luis Carlos Torcal Ortega, Director of the Department of Defence Culture and Diplomacy at CESEDEN, closed the 1st Conference on "Challenges to Spain's Security and Defence". During his speech, General Torcal analysed how the world has changed since the beginning of this course, highlighting some fundamental milestones that can sometimes go unnoticed. He stressed that we are witnessing the disappearance of yesterday's world and the birth of a new and complex global scenario. The subsequent debate was moderated by lecturer Javier Martín Merchán, who is currently a student on the National Defence Course for Young People at CESEDEN, and who was responsible for closing the conference.

The event at Comillas made it clear that Spain faces a crossroads in terms of security and defence. With an ever-changing international environment and traditional alliances under review, the country must define its long-term strategy to guarantee its security in an increasingly uncertain world.