Chair of the NATO Military Committee shows his appreciation for Spain's commitment to the Alliance

• After the NATO Summit, Admiral Bauer stayed in Spain to meet with the Defence authorities and visited the Bétera NATO’s Headquarters

After the NATO Summit in Madrid, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, stayed in Spain to hold some meetings with Spanish authorities and to visit the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters and NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (CGTAD/HQ NRDC-ESP) in Valencia.

Admiral Bauer started his official visit yesterday, June 30, at the Defence Staff (EMAD in Spanish) Headquarters, where Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón awarded him the Grand Cross of Naval Merit with a white badge. Then, after signing the Book of Honour, the Chair of the Military Committee held a working meeting with the CHOD and other Defence Staff military authorities in which they shared ideas on the Summit and highlighted Spain's firm commitment to the alliance.

In the afternoon, Admiral Bauer held a private audience with His Majesty King Felipe VI and a meeting with the Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles.

Today, July 1, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, accompanied by the CHOD, will visit the NRDC-ESP HQ in its two locations: the Santo Domingo Barracks, in Valencia city, and the 'Jaime I' Military Base in Bétera.

At the Barracks, the Head of the HQ, Lieutenant General Fernando García-Vaquero, will give a brief conference followed by question time about the current situation of the Alliance.

Afterwards, the delegation will travel to Bétera, where Admiral Bauer will attend a presentation on the organization and operation of HQ NRDC-ESP and will tour the operations centre and the planning room, as well as the tactical commanding post deployed on protected tents within the base, where he will see some military capabilities in which the Spanish Headquarters plays a leading role, as a result of its multinational experience, training and permanent adaptation to new scenarios and threats.

The visit of the Chair of the NATO Military Committee means the recognition of the important contribution of Spain to the Alliance as a reliable partner, as well as the outstanding work of HQ NRDC-ESP within the NATO Force Structure.