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KEY POINTS
1. Princess Leonor’s Tour and Historical Context: The tour of the Chilean coast by Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, highlights Spain’s historical influence in the Indo-Pacific, stemming from key navigational milestones by explorers like Balboa, Magellan, and Elcano in the 16th century, when the Pacific was largely considered a “Spanish lake.”
2. Shift in Geopolitical Landscape: The Spanish crown’s dominance in the Pacific diminished following territorial losses in the late 19th century, yet cultural ties remain evident. The Spanish Navy’s strategic document, Visión Armada 2050, emphasizes the need to adapt to the shifting economic focus toward the Indo-Pacific.
3. Collaboration and Naval Strategy: The Spanish Navy recognizes the increasing importance of aligning with other European naval forces like Germany, Britain, and France, which are actively participating in the region to strengthen security and engage in humanitarian missions, reflecting a broader strategy to maintain global naval presence.
4. Strategic Importance of the Indo-Pacific: Spain recognizes the shifting global economic focus towards the Indo-Pacific and aims to strengthen its role within international coalitions, particularly alongside NATO allies like Australia, Japan, and South Korea, to enhance regional security despite limited military capacity.
5. Modernization and Capability Enhancement: The Spanish Navy’s “Visión Armada 2050” outlines ambitious plans to modernize its fleet and capabilities, emphasizing advanced technology, increased ability to project naval power ashore, and enhanced coordination in combat scenarios, while also focusing on developing a robust national defense industry.
6. Investment and Training Priorities: The Spanish Navy intends to invest significantly in technology and infrastructure, including smart naval shipyards and energy systems for small vessels, while prioritizing training for operations in challenging environments and exploring emerging domains like seabed warfare, anticipating future military needs in high-intensity conflict situations.
Read the full article here (PDF): Spanish Navy Deployment in the Indo-Pacific and Strategic Vision of “Armada 2050”
Author: Giancarlo Elia Valori – Honorable de l’Académie des Sciences de l’Institut de France, Honorary Professor at the Peking University