Imane Rachidi |
Reykjavik (EFE) .- “We are prepared to act in any type of scenario” and protect NATO territory, assures EFE Jesús Viñas Barciela, a frigate captain who has been in charge of the Spanish ship Álvaro de Bazán for the last two weeks “improving the capabilities at the individual and collective level” of the allies in anti-submarine defense.
In an interview from the Álvaro de Bazán, docked in the Icelandic port of Reykjavík for a rest before returning to patrol, Viñas Barciela underscores the importance of the annual Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine warfare exercise, which is held in the North Atlantic , testing the Alliance with complex scenarios.
“What we are seeking is to improve our capabilities individually and collectively in anti-submarine defense and, of course, holding this exercise in this area sends a message that right now we are prepared to act in any type of scenario,” he warns. .
the ukrainian war
Asked how the war in Ukraine has influenced Spain’s role in NATO, the military man assures that the objective for years has been to keep threats as far away as possible.
“We are here trying to prevent that from happening in our country. Not now because what happened in Ukraine. We have spent many years far from our borders, trying to keep all threats far away. We are seeing it closer and closer and, as we see it closer, the closer we will be here, dissuading our adversaries and prepared to defend, if necessary, tonight”, assured the captain.
The Spanish frigate is contributing to “supporting the 360 degree vision of Spain in NATO”, which focuses not only on the eastern flank, but also on the southern flank, Viñas Barciela points out.
underwater maneuvers
The Maritime Group One (SNMG1) is a multinational integrated work team that seeks a “constant and visible update of solidarity and cohesion” in the Alliance. Since April 24, it has mobilized 1,800 people and twelve ships, including the Álvaro de Bazán frigate, for “intense and challenging training” in an area of 200,000 square miles in the North Atlantic.
“These are eminently anti-submarine maneuvers,” he explains, after two weeks working in “an area of great strategic interest” for NATO, between Norway and Iceland.
Álvaro de Bazán has been “one more unit, working with its anti-submarine warfare and air control capabilities”, with tasks of defense and air coordination, in an area, says the captain, “where there were many air assets, maritime patrol and helicopters, where it is important to ensure safety and air traffic”.
By way of example, he explains that, during the exercises, it has been simulated that some units called ‘valuable’ for the mission have to go from point A to point B, from the United States to Europe, and have to be protected by other units. escort type, such as the Álvaro de Bazán and other frigates that have participated in the mission.
For example, in the face of “an underwater threat, submarines are units that have a great advantage underwater, since they are capable of detecting, locating, and following us at a great distance, and we must first be able to prevent them from detecting us and, on the other hand, carry out maneuvers so that they pay attention to other ships and not to our valuable unit, so that it can fulfill its mission”, he staged.
A constant challenge
Viñas Barciela stresses that the rate at which submarine technology advances is “a constant challenge” for the Navies. “We have to be in the gap because the adversaries and our opponents also want to be in the gap and they will find superiority if they open the technological hole for us,” he adds.
“It is essential for us that our capacities are up to date, but capacities are not only material, they are also our people, that our crews are up to date with techniques, tactics and procedures, which, like technology, are advancing today in day very, very quickly,” he explains.
The threat to critical underwater infrastructure has also increased since the war in Ukraine began. In February, the Dutch military intelligence services accused Russia of mapping its energy supply system from the North Sea to determine possible points where distribution could be interrupted, which could affect wind farms, internet cables and gas pipelines. .
“It is something that we are studying and we have seen that it may be in danger. It is true that neighboring countries, such as Norway, are very concerned (…) We are making our efforts to support the defense of these infrastructures, mainly with our presence,” concludes Viñas Barciela.