Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (EFE).- The Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, has reported on Monday that the existing Army facilities in Fuerteventura will be improved, but that there are “no prospects” of expanding the firing range on the island .
Speaking to journalists on the occasion of his visit to the facilities of the Soria Infantry Regiment number 9, Robles stressed the importance, in any case, of the shooting ranges so that the military can be well trained: “We are living in a situation where The world is very complicated and, therefore, deterrence and training is essential”.
He stressed that “the shooting ranges serve to obtain a preparation to defend peace and life, and that is something that we have to say clearly and without complexes.”
The minister has indicated that the visit to the barracks was pending because she wanted to personally thank the Soria Regiment and its units for their work and, in particular, during the pandemic and the eruption of the volcano on the island of La Palma.
Robles stressed that “we Spaniards and the Canary Islands must feel very proud of our army, whose soldiers “give us a great lesson every day”, especially in these “complicated and difficult moments” due to the war in Ukraine.
He also highlighted that last week in Lithuania he was able to “notice and see” how the countries of central Europe and those that border Russia want there to be Spanish soldiers because of their image of “solidity and preparation”, which is also that of the Regiment Soria, of which she has stated that she feels “proud and grateful”.
He has pointed out that he always repeats that “a missile launched from Moscow can reach Spanish territory, and that, for this reason, it is” so important that we have Armed Forces and a well-prepared and trained land army.
When asked if the Army should intervene in the task of helping immigration on their routes, Robles has made it clear that “it is not a problem” on which the Armed Forces should intervene.
“In principle, this is not the Army’s mission,” even though it has carried out humanitarian work, since “the immigration problem is very serious,” Robles pointed out.
However, he has stated that he is very concerned about the situation in Africa due to the increase in jihadist terrorism and also because of the mafias that traffic in immigrants, but he has stressed that it is the European Union that must establish a joint policy on immigration.
“This must be resolved within the EU, and not with the armies”, added Robles, who stressed, however, that “we all have to be very clear that there must be zero tolerance for the mafias and that we must be very harsh with those who take advantage of people who suffer and have a bad time”. EFE