Spanish CHOD hosts Chairman of the EU Military Committee

• general Claudio Graziano has held a meeting with admiral general López Calderón during his official visit to Spain

Chief of Defence Staff, admiral general Teodoro López Calderón, hosted general Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC), on Thursday.

The Italian general was honoured at the Defence Staff Headquarters and, after signing the Book of Honour, he attended a working meeting with CHID and other military authorities to discuss, among other issues, Spain's contribution to EU missions.

Previously, CEUMC addressed a conference  to the students of the Armed Forces Staff Course at the Centre for National Defence Studies (CESEDEN).

On Friday, general Graziano headed to Retamares Base, in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), to visit the Operations Command (MOPS), where he was welcomed by lieutenant general Francisco Braco as Commander.

general Graziano learned first-hand about the planning, monitoring and conduction of all Armed Forces joint operations, both overseas and permanent ones. Specifically, MOPS Deputy for Operations, General Javier Vidal, updated him on the participation of Spanish military within European Union operations. Finally, general Graziano held a videoconference with the Spanish contingent in EUTM Mali, Detachment 'Marfil' (Senegal), frigate 'Reina Sofía' and the Detachment 'Orion', the latter two integrated in the EUNAVFOR Atalanta operation.