After almost half a century of service in the Navy, the Retired Admiral Juan Rodríguez Garath has become a renowned analyst of defense. Your new book, War drumsit is a study on the state of world geopolitics and a call for attention on Spain’s pending subjects in defense.
In one Interview granted to infodefense.comthe Admiral addresses from the crisis in Ukraine to the role of Morocco in the region, through the need for Spain to recover its national conscience and military capacity.
The lack of a culture of defense in Spain
One of the central axes of the book is the lack of national awareness and poor defense culture in Spain. According to Rodríguez Garat, these deficiencies have historical roots:
“We lost our empire in the worst possible time, when nationalisms were being built in Europe. In Spain, however, too many citizens do not believe in the notion of Spain.”
To this is added a naive vision of security international:
“Many believe that, if we don’t get with anyone, nobody will get to us. That mentality weakens us and leaves us without response to real threats.”
Spain and the European rearme
From the NATO summit in Wales in 2014, the Allies promised to increase their defense expenditure to 2% of GDP. However, Spain has lagged in this effort, something that now changes by pressure from the European Union:
“It would bet that Spain will reach 2%, not because NATO demands it, but because the EU demands it. The war in Ukraine has made Europe understand that without military muscle, its political weight is insignificant.”
The military insists that, beyond the budget, A change of mentality is necessary In Spanish society:
“It is not just about spending more in arms, but about understanding what we need.
The role of Russia and China in the world order
About the war in Ukraine, Rodríguez Garat argues that Putin cannot afford to lose And that the West will continue to support kyiv so that he does not lose, but not to win at all.
“If Putin returns from Ukraine defeated, his destiny will be like Gaddafi’s. West does not want his victory, but neither does his collapse, because he would further destabilize the region.”
Regarding China, it warns that The Asian giant is the true US strategic rival. And that he is taking advantage of the conflict in Ukraine:
“China is delighted with the situation. Russia, its competitor in Asia, weakens, and the US is forced to distribute their attention between Europe and the Pacific.”
Is Morocco a threat to Spain?
One of the most sensitive issues in the Spanish geopolitics is the relationship with Morocco. The Admiral is clear:
“Morocco is an awkward neighbor, but his real problem is Algeria. It does not represent a military threat to Spain because, if it were, he would have submarines, and he does not have them.”
Explain that Morocco strategy is to press Spain Through hybrid war actions, such as the manipulation of migratory flows, but that a military invasion is unfeasible.
“For Morocco, the Western Sahara is a priority, not Ceuta and Melilla. If he really had military intentions against Spain, he would invest in a fleet of submarines, which is the weapon of the weak par excellence. Without them, I could not challenge the Spanish Navy.”
Instead, Algeria does have submarineswhich makes it a more worrying actor for security in the region.
The future of defense in Spain
Rodríguez Garat insists that Spain needs a change of mentality to assume your role in the international community. Not only in terms of investment, but also in education and dissemination on safety and defense.
“National conscience must be taught in schools, and the culture of defense must arise in universities. If the Spaniards understood the role of the armed forces in the world, there would be such a resistance to invest in defense.”
It ends with one clear warning:
“If we want peace, we must prepare for war. It is a reality that has been valid for centuries and continues to be today.”