Spain is sending the frigate "Cristóbal Colón" to the Eastern Mediterranean to protect Cyprus.
The frigate will escort the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and Greek warships, following a drone attack on the British base at Akrotiri on the island.
The mission will include protection and air-defense operations, as well as assistance in the evacuation of non-military personnel, according to a statement from the Spanish Ministry of Defense.
According to the website El País, the "Cristóbal Colón", the most modern vessel of the Spanish Navy, had initially been participating in naval operations in the Baltic Sea, but will now head toward the coasts of Crete, expected to arrive around March 10.
Yesterday, in a public address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stressed that Spain's position is "no to war", clarifying that the country "will not yield to pressure from the United States to support the war of the U.S. and Israel against Iran."
What preceded
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday during a press briefing that the Spanish "heard Trump's message loud and clear yesterday" and that "they agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military."
She added that "the U.S. military is coordinating with its counterparts in Spain."
However, just minutes later, Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares denied that there would be cooperation.
"Our position on the war and on the use of bases has not changed," the minister stressed.
Trump's remarks about Spain
On Tuesday, Donald Trump told reporters during a meeting with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that "Spain has behaved unacceptably."
He added that he had asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all transactions" with the country.
"We don't want to have anything to do with them," he said.
"Spain has nothing we need except good people; they are nice people, but they don't have nice leadership," Trump added. He also complained that Spain resisted efforts to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, as requested from NATO allies.
Statement from the Italian Defense Minister
The possibility of sending forces to Cyprus had earlier been revealed in the Italian parliament by Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
"During a meeting yesterday with my counterparts from Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland and France, we decided to establish permanent coordination between our defense ministries to monitor this crisis," he said.
"Speaking with my Spanish counterpart and with the defense ministers of the countries mentioned, we agreed that within the EU it made sense to send a message of support to Cyprus. This means that Italy, France, the Netherlands and Spain will likely send security assistance to Cyprus."
He added that Article 7 of the EU Treaty provides support to a member state under attack, and that naval units will be sent in the coming days to protect Cyprus.
Πηγή: en.protothema.gr
