Chair EU Military Committee, General Seán Clancy engages with Spanish Chief of Defence and Defence Staff in Madrid

Madrid, 16 June 2026 – The Chair of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC) today had a high-level engagement with Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, Chief of Defence of Spain (CHOD), and senior members of the Spanish Defence Staff, reinforcing the strong partnership between Spain and the EU in security and defence.

The visit highlighted Spain’s contributions to European defence, including its leadership in CSDP missions, such as Operation Atalanta and its critical role in training Ukrainian forces at the Toledo Training Centre. Admiral López Calderón and the Defence Staff briefed CEUMC on Spain’s operational readiness, defence industry advancements, and commitment to multinational cooperation.

The engagement included discussion on topics like:

Spain’s support to Ukraine, Maritime security challenges and Regional stability efforts, particularly in the Sahel, Gulf of Guinea, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean.

CEUMC commended Spain’s professionalism, reliability, and leadership in EU-NATO operations, stating: "Spain’s contributions—from rapid deployment capabilities to defence industrial collaboration—are indispensable to European security."

The visit also considered future cooperation, including EU command-and-control reforms and enhanced interoperability between EU and NATO forces.

This engagement underscores the deep collaboration between Spain and the EU Military Committee, ensuring a unified and effective response to shared security challenges.