Margarita Robles: "This virus must be confronted from within the unit. We must not make politics out of it.

"The Spanish Armed Forces are prepared, modern and a point of reference in Europe. Spain is a serious, solid and prepared country, committed to democratic values". The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, was responsible for closing the 32nd International Seminar on Security and Defence, organised by the Association of European Journalis

Most of her speech was used to acknowledge the effort and work carried out by the men and women who have been and are part of the operations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  "We are proud to be able to thank the women and men of the Armed Forces for the work they did during Operation Balmis and now in Operation Baluarte," said Robles.

Excited, the minister recalled the work carried out: "They have gone where no one else would go, disinfecting, moving bodies, not leaving the dead alone, moving the sick, going to China to bring in equipment... This has put the Armed Forces in the front line of knowledge for society".

The world of defence is the great unknown for a large part of society, "which generates some tics of the past that are the result of ignorance", said the head of Defence.

But the commitment of the armed forces to defending freedoms and security is visible and recognisable, not only on national territory but also in their interventions abroad, such as in the Sahel, and in cooperation operations with the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. "Spain is a serious country, committed to Europe and to democratic values and we maintain them wherever we are deployed". One of these programmes mentioned by the minister during her speech was the work of the Spanish military in relation to the emancipation of women in countries such as Afghanistan and Mali. "The Sahel is an essential and fundamental place, which is why Spain has a commitment in Mali and we are going to work with the European Union", said Robles

The modernisation and transparency of the Armed Forces is one of the main objectives for the minister, who has asked for an end to the conflict over the approval of the General State Budget. "Budgets are necessary. No one understands anymore that, for partisan reasons, with the only purpose of harming the Government, they are blocked".

In order to achieve this transparency, Robles referred to the National Defence Directive signed by the president of the government and the law on transparent defence policy, to create a regulatory framework that is committed to the development and modernisation of the three armies.

Now the greatest challenge facing the armed forces is the fight against COVID-19, "Our armed forces are still at the bottom of the barrel". The Army's offer to the Autonomous Communities to establish military trackers, under the name 'Baluarte Mission', has become a fundamental part of the defence against the virus and they are already operating in 13 communities and Ceuta and Melilla. "This offer has no political connotation. It is only about a desire to serve the citizens, where no value judgments are made as to whether a community is competent or not," Robles said. "The Armed Forces will be where they are needed, as they are needed and when they are needed.

But in order to be able to tackle this second wave of the COVID-19 in Spain, Robles said, it is essential for "all politicians to be united and make a joint effort. Because the virus does not distinguish between ideologies" and he has asked that "we should face up to the virus with unity and not make politics out of it".
This unit's model and commitment "were and are our Armed Forces, which did so in Operation Balmis and now in the Presidium".