A Necessary Agreement

The Spanish-American agreement that makes Morón de la Frontera the main permanent U.S. airbase to protect its interests in Africa — but not only on this continent — the signature of which has been postponed by John Kerry’s unfortunate bike accident, represents a qualitative leap in the relations between both countries from the bilateral defense agreement of 1988. Morón, where 850 Marines and up to 14 planes have been temporarily deployed so far, will accommodate 3,500 Marines and 40 aircraft in the case of a crisis — crisis already a reality in North Africa and the Middle East— according to requests made by the Pentagon and approved during the last council of ministers. The scale of the change, which also extends to progressive reinforcement of the Rota Naval base, requires approval by parliament before its resolution.

The Sevillian base will be host to a rapid reaction force designed to intervene in a wide arc of territory ignited by the advances of Islamist fundamentalism, where Barack Obama’s strategy — or rather lack of strategy — has not produced the expected outcome of first weakening and then destroying the army vanguard, the Islamic State, the ruthless militia that has proclaimed the caliphate.

The use of bombs alone does not work to settle deeply rooted sectarian conflicts fueled by outside powers, and the Islamic State group and its subordinate groups continue to gain ground in Syria and Iraq despite the presence of U.S. aircraft. What was once a region subject to the status quo of Arab dictatorships has become, in the context of the global Sunni-Shiite conflict and the bitter rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a site of widespread war without clear boundaries and with no predictable end. The desperate and massive Mediterranean exodus is just one of the tragic consequences of the progressive chaos that is expanding the payroll of failed or failing states — Syria, Iraq, now Yemen — some closer to our borders, like Libya, and others threatened by their faltering democracy, like Tunisia. Islamic State group terrorism has already reached Saudi Arabia and the expansion of its various franchises reaches the interior of Africa, namely Mali, Kenya and Nigeria.

The case for greater Spanish involvement can’t be clearer in this context. The fight against Islamic fanaticism is an urgent battle for everyone and our involvement in it should not be limited by borders. Jihadism is a decisive threat for the West. It is imperative for Europe, and Spain in particular, to strengthen its containment by all means, including military, and to prevent a territorial sanctuary being fortified at its doors by an enemy determined to prolong its global struggle in the long term. Islamic terrorism has not only made our country one of its targets, but also fosters fanatics who are ready to blow up the foundations of the system of liberties.

Despite its significance, the agreement about Morón has been negotiated for months in complete obscurity, with parliament absent in this matter. Spaniards have not heard about the substantial change to a 26-year-old military agreement in which our country has much at stake. Vice President Sáenz de Santamaría has said that Washington will need Madrid’s authorization for each one of its unilateral missions from Morón. If Spanish sovereignty remains guaranteed, as the government assures and requires it to be, then it is time to find out the compensation we will get from the United States when the stakes are this high.