In 2025, the Spanish government decided to increase its military support for NATO’s eastern flank. In the near future, three Eurofighter jets, an A-400 transport aircraft, and a modern radar system will be made available to the Alliance. These measures are aimed at strengthening defenses in light of recent incidents involving drone incursions into the airspace of Poland and Romania.
The equipment and crews are expected to join Operation Centinela Oriental, which is focused on boosting the defense of NATO’s eastern borders. Spanish authorities have not specified the exact location for the new contingent—both Poland and Romania are being considered. Meanwhile, the deployment of surface-to-air missile systems is not planned, despite ongoing discussions within the military leadership.
This week, a meeting of NATO’s Military Committee was held in Brussels, where details of the mission’s expansion and force distribution among member countries were discussed. Spain confirmed its readiness to increase its contribution to collective security, but final decisions regarding the timeline and precise placement have not yet been made. The country’s authorities emphasize that the effort involves not only traditional military capabilities but also new tools to counter the threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.
Operation “Centinela Oriental” is set to launch in the coming days. Spanish military personnel will be involved in airspace monitoring and control, as well as coordination with allies. Details regarding the scale and duration of the mission have not yet been disclosed, but it is already clear that Madrid intends to play a more prominent role in securing Europe’s eastern borders.
