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Posted on 03/05/2012 7:34:30 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Rota base: Spain readies to participate in US ‘anti-missile shield’
Spain is negotiating the inclusion and participation of its navy F-100 frigates in the US anti ballistic-missile defence system commonly known as the ‘anti-missile shield,’ that is designed to protect Allied and NATO territory. The agreement between Madrid and Washington envisages use of the Rota military base as home port for the deployment of the shield by four US Arleigh Burke class destroyers between 2013- 2015.
Defence analysts have stated that Spain would be playing a key role in the naval component of the defence shield, and repositioning its foreign policy squarely within Nato and as a solid and reliable ally of the US.
Spanish military sources declared that its frigates equipped with SPY-1 D radar and the same Aegis combat equipment that the US navy has to track ballistic missiles, would only require a change of software to enable their integration into the anti-missile shield.
“This is a financially viable investment for Spain,” said the source. Negotiations between the Spanish and US Government are currently under way.
What is far more expensive would be the purchase of SM-3 interceptor missiles for the Spanish F100 frigates, although this could be provided by the US as part of a broader military initiative for the pooling of Nato resources by the 28 allied member states known as ‘Smart Defence’ which aims to share costs and minimize the impact of Defence budget cuts in the current economic crisis.
Vessels equipped with the Aegis system can also operate land based Patriot missiles which are deployed by other allies.
Within Nato only Spain and Norway have this capability, although Norwegian frigates built by Spain have a somewhat inferior capacity.
The Smart Defence plan will be discussed at the Chicago summit of presidents that will take place on May 20-21st which will be the first to be attended by Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy by when Spain’s participation in the Rota Missile Defence Shield will have been secured.
Rota revival
Recently Pentagon officials stated that US and Spanish naval forces “shared considerable operational interaction.” The US navy will be sending around 1,300 troops and civilian staff to Rota who will be accompanied by over 2000 relatives.
This development has already been welcomed in this economically depressed area of the Cadiz province as something of an economic revival for the whole of the Bahia de Cadiz. The last permanent deployment of US vessels to Rota dates back to 1979.
Nato sources have said that Spain’s strong commitment to Nato would influence other countries to participate in one way or another in the US led programme. The war in Libya showed Nato that European countries are obliged to share their capacities in order to reach the desired efficiency levels in the face of new geo-strategic threats.
Report
According to a leaked Spanish Ministry of Defence report, “the Spanish navy is in an advantageous position to achieve with moderate investment in the short term, a capacity equivalent to that of last generation US navy vessels and therefore capable of a quantum leap in its contribution to NATO’s collective defence effort…”
Iran threat
Iran’s long range nuclear weapon programme is seen as the greatest threat affecting much of continental Europe. In political terms Russia’s opposition to the US-Europe anti-missile defence shield deployment on the basis that it can deactivate its own nuclear arsenal – while the US keeps its own nuclear capability intact – is another factor which could resurface and lead to a serious confrontation with Nato with Vladimir Putin’s return to the nation’s presidency.
Dumb idea. Close Rota and bring our sailors HOME. (I am not a Ron Paul supporter.)
An unofficial website reported a month ago that the increase of C-5 traffic at Rota was due to the equipment arriving for the anti-missile shield, so the deployment might have already begun.
Dumb idea is right. Guess who will be paying for this non sense. Another blow to the U.S. taxpayer. Here the DOD goes again spending money our country does not have. When will it end?
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