The Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón joins in commemorating Portugal’s National Day

• The Ambassador of Portugal to Spain attended the event

The newly appointed Ambassador of Portugal to Spain, José Augusto Duarte, visited the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejón de Ardoz (CAOCT) to commemorate his country’s National Day. The Centre is permanently staffed by five members of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), integrated within the international command structure.

The delegation was received by the Commander of CAOC Torrejón, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sánchez de Lara, and subsequently joined the military ceremony held in honour of Portugal’s National Day or Dia de Portugal. Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas. This date commemorates the death of the poet and writer Luís de Camões, author of Os Lusíadas, the most significant work in Portuguese literature.

In his address, Lieutenant General Sánchez de Lara highlighted Portugal’s enduring commitment to NATO as one of its founding members in 1949, and in particular, with CAOCT, dating back to the former CAOC 8. He also underlined Portugal’s active participation in NATO’s Air Policing mission since its inception in 1961, as well as its continued involvement in various Air Policing detachments deployed in multiple operational theatres, wherever its presence is required.

Ambassador Duarte expressed his appreciation to the personnel of CAOC Torrejón for their dedication to safeguarding European airspace, particularly during the challenging times currently being experienced on eastern Europe. He also conveyed the favourable impression made upon him by witnessing first-hand the professionalism and commitment of the international contingent stationed at Torrejón.

COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTRE TORREJÓN (NATO)

CAOC Torrejón, under the direct command of a Spanish Air and Space Force lieutenant general, has as its primary mission the planning, direction, coordination, supervision, analysis, and reporting of air defence operations across Southern Europe. This is carried out in accordance with the directives issued by NATO’s Allied Air Command, to which the Centre is subordinate, and employing the assets that member nations assign to NATO during peacetime.

The Spanish Armed Forces provide a significant contribution to the mission undertaken by this Centre. Approximately 120 Spanish military personnel serve at the facility, either within the CAOC itself, the National Support Element (NSE), or the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA).