Spanish Contingent Deployed in Somalia Participates in Multinational Exercise ‘Blue Shield’

• This exercise marks a milestone: for the first time, all EU missions have come together to coordinate their capabilities for the benefit of this African country

Spanish military personnel integrated into the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM-S) have organised the multinational exercise ‘Blue Shield’ in the coastal area near the Somali capital, at sea and within the Mogadishu International Airport (MIA) area.

This European exercise is an important training opportunity for EUTM-S, allowing it to practise its defence capabilities against various external threats. Among the activities carried out, personnel were transferred—by helicopter and light boat—from the Somali coast to the frigate, as well as presenting the capabilities this mission can offer to other deployed missions and operations in Somalia.

On this occasion, the EU Delegation (EUDEL) and the European Union Civilian Mission in Somalia (EUCAP-S) also participated. In addition, the Spanish frigate ‘Reina Sofía’, which is part of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, supported the exercise. These three European missions—EUTM-S, EUCAP-S, and Atalanta—form the European Union’s comprehensive approach to supporting Somalia’s reconstruction and stabilisation. Over several days, the Spanish contingent in Somalia has been a key driver of European cooperation in the Horn of Africa.

EUTM Somalia

The European Union decided to launch EUTM-S on 25 January 2010 to contribute to the training of Somali security forces. Initially deployed in Uganda, the mission moved to Mogadishu in 2014.

Today, EUTM-S contributes to the development of Somalia’s security sector capabilities through advising and training military personnel. At the strategic level, it supports Somali authorities in security institutions in the Mogadishu area. EUTM-S also provides assistance to other international and EU partners within its available means and capabilities, in the execution of their respective mandates. Somali military units are trained by EUTM-S personnel as an additional tool for Somali authorities, both to combat Al-Shabaab and to initiate the process of transitioning towards the gradual withdrawal of troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and the transfer of security responsibilities to Somali security and defence forces.

Spain has been involved in the mission since its inception. Currently, Spanish personnel carry out training and advisory tasks in various areas and hold prominent positions at the mission's headquarters, such as Chief of Staff and Head of the Training Pillar.