“CAOC Torrejón, the Romanian Control and Reporting Centres and the Spanish detachment have shown flexibility in certifying the Spanish team for mission execution despite the pandemic. This certification is an assurance of professionalism, consistency and teamwork,” said Lieutenant General Fernando De La Cruz, Commander of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejón. “NATO Allies continue to stand by each other and collectively safeguard the skies of the Alliance”, he added.
NATO Allies continue to stand by each other and collectively safeguard the skies of the Alliance
“The enhanced Air Policing mission is a continuation of NATO’s defence policy aimed at deterrence through presence and transparency of its operations,” said Lieutenant Colonel José Enrique Hernández Medel, Commander of the Spanish Detachment. “Under the Tactical Control of
the CAOC at Torrejón, Spanish Eurofighters will contribute for the next two month to the surveillance and protection of Europe's southeastern border, working closely with their Romanian allies,” he added.
Enhanced Air Policing demonstrates the collective resolve of the Allies, the defensive nature of NATO and deters the threat of aggression against NATO Allies. It is a particularly flexible tool and adaptable to the fluctuations of the security situation with which the Alliance is confronted. Enhanced Air Policing sends a strong message of solidarity, efficiency and determination.
Over the last years Allied fighter detachments from Canada, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom deployed their jets to Romania in support of NATO’s Assurance Measures in the South. Spain has contributed to the enhanced Air Policing mission in the north since 2006; this is the first Spanish deployment in support of the southern region.