Sometimes, decisions in international politics are not made in offices, but in documents signed decades ago. In fact, a clause drafted in the middle of the Cold War can become the decisive factor in a 21st century crisis. A document from the past that has been transformed into a strategic tool.
Escalation and division. The offensive of the United States and Israel against Iran has opened a political rift on the European continent. France, Germany and the United Kingdom have coordinated a joint position that leaves no room for doubt, one in which they even contemplate proportionate actions to neutralize Iranian attacks at source and protect their interests in the Gulf.
Faced with this bloc, Spain has opted for a explicit uncheck linedefending de-escalation and strict respect for international law. The fracture with the great forces of Europe is not just rhetoric, because it has now materialized in operational decisions that directly affect strategic infrastructures on Spanish soil.
All “yes”, except one. Thus, while the great European powers they have made it clear that will allow the use of its capabilities and bases to support Washington, Spain has activated a legal mechanism signed almost 40 years ago during the Cold War, in 1988, which conditions any use of the Rota and Morón bases to objectives framed in collective defense or in a recognized multilateral framework.
The key “paragraph.” He article 2 of the Convention It is clear in this sense, since it grants the United States the use of certain support facilities and authorizations in Spanish territory “for objectives within the bilateral or multilateral scope of the agreement.” However, it also points out that any use that goes beyond those objectives will require authorization prior to the Spanish Government.
Hence, the Executive has maintained that a unilateral operation against Iran doesn’t fit in that case. That clauseborn in the context of the NATO referendum and the reaffirmation of sovereignty over the bases, has now become the “ace in the hole” that has allowed Madrid deny replenishment of American tankers and block direct support for the offensive.
Rota and Morón: sovereignty, not automatic transfer. The bilateral agreement makes it clear that the bases They are of Spanish sovereignty and that the United States operates support facilities under national command. This implies that transit or resupply flights are for the purposes of the treaty and have express authorization.
Thus, yesterday and after the Spanish refusal, Washington retired for a fortnight of tanker aircraft deployed in Morón and Rota, moving them to other European bases. The message is twofold: Spain does not authorize offensive use outside the agreed framework and the United States reorganizes its device accordingly.
The European contrast. As we said, Paris, Berlin and London have shown willingness to coordinate responses even of an offensive nature if they consider that their interests or those of their allies are threatened by Iranian missiles.
The difference, therefore, is not ideological, but strategic: the big three have chosen to align with Washington in active defense against Tehran. Spain, on the other hand, has insisted in that any action must be protected by the United Nations Charter or by a multilateral organization such as NATO or the EU. There is no doubt, the result is a unique and historic position within the Western bloc.
Consequences and international perception. Plus: the decision has generated conflicting readings. For the Government it is clear that it is a reaffirmation of legality and sovereignty. For critics and defense experts, it means a distancing of the common allied position, one that may have medium-term implications in the strategic relationship with the United States, whose link with Spain is articulated to a large extent via Rota.
If you like, also in security policy, each gesture is interpreted as a signal. And on this occasion, the signal sent by Spain has been unequivocal: without international legal coverage, its bases will not be a platform to attack Iran.
Image | Navy, US Defense
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