NATO's impact on the Spanish Army & future perspectives

Abstract

The crucial influence, both direct as well as indirect, that NATO has had on all the Spanish Army’s activities needs to be recognised, especially in terms of the change in mentality of its members; organisation, transformation and planning; doctrine, operations and intelligence; preparation and training, along with its leadership and logistic support. The important change in mentality that the Army has undergone as a consequence of entering the Alliance has fundamentally been in the field of operational structures, force projection, knowledge of languages, leadership, joint and combined spirit and multinationality. Some of the permanent references for the Army, with the horizon of 2025 in the human factor (of the combat soldier), professionalism, the command structure, joint action, a Comprehensive Approach to conflicts, a continuous and dynamic need to evolve, constant improvement and an intelligent dissemination of the institution’s values. Definitively, the Army in the first quarter of the 21st century is a tool of the State, one that is modern, agile, flexible, perfectly represented in NATO and the international environment, which is prepared in its mentality, and in staff and material terms, to respond with the greatest solidity, credibility and efficiency to safeguard and defend Spanish interests.