Spain strengthens and extends its bilateral commitment with several African countries in 2025

•  This year, Spanish military personnel have provided combat training in Senegal, Mauritania, and Cape Verde

Spain has strengthened and extended its bilateral commitment to African countries in 2025. Spanish military personnel have trained and advised their counterparts in the armed forces of several of these nations, from North Africa to Mozambique, including the Sahel, the Gulf of Guinea, and the Horn of Africa, both in European Union missions and on a bilateral basis.

In this context of cooperation, since 2014 Spain has maintained close collaboration with Senegal in the area of security and defense, focusing on military training and advice within a bilateral initiative called Cooperative Security Activities (CSA). In 2025, the training activities provided to Senegalese military personnel included the following highlights:

•  Training course on improvised explosive devices, taught by a team from the Marine Infantry Brigade.
• Training in Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED), as well as combat medical training exercises, taught by sappers from the Canary Islands Brigade and instructors from the Galicia VII Brigade (BRILAT).
• Training in logistics, given by military personnel from the 81st Logistics Support Group (Logistics Brigade).
• Training course on the maintenance and operation of outboard motors, given by instructors from the Marine Brigade's boat company.
•  Advanced training in special operations for personnel from the Force Spécial Aérienne (FSA), an elite unit of the Senegalese Air Force, taught by members of the Parachute Engineer Squadron (EZAPAC) of the Air and Space Force, accompanied by a specialist from the Joint Special Operations Command (MCOE).

Training courses for Cape Verde Armed Forces sharpshooters were also provided, taught by a team of snipers from the Alcántara 10 Cavalry Regiment of Melilla. A rifle regiment was also trained in combat techniques and procedures in urban areas, combat shooting, explosives, and combat casualty care (CCT) by members of the Legion Brigade.

In Mauritania, an operational team from the Special Operations Command has trained Mauritanian commandos in orientation and combat techniques with the aim of enhancing the level of training of their Mauritanian units, while strengthening military cohesion between the two countries.

Finally, in terms of maritime operations, these ASCs are closely linked to the Coordinated Maritime Presence in the Gulf of Guinea (PMC-GoG). In 2025, the Spanish offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ‘Relámpago’ and ‘Rayo’, within the framework of this European Union initiative, carried out training activities in the Gulf of Guinea and the west coast of Africa, a key area for global trade and, therefore, for Spain.

All these activities are carried out upon the request of the host African countries. The Spanish Armed Forces contribute with regular deployments to strengthen the security and defense capabilities of these countries, as well as to contribute to stability in areas considered a national priority.

In addition, the Spanish military has also carried out other civil-military cooperation activities, which have allowed them to establish direct contact with the local population. Overall, Cooperative Security Activities demonstrate Spain's firm commitment to providing stability in Africa and working for the security of its population.