Police, fighter jets and remote work: Madrid has started the countdown to the NATO summit
The Spanish capital is in full swing preparing to host the upcoming meeting of the heads of state and government of NATO, during which it is expected to approve the new strategic concept of the alliance — the organization's roadmap for the next decade.
Spain will host the summit on June 28-30 at a symbolic moment for itself — the 40th anniversary of the kingdom's accession to NATO. Madrid already had the opportunity to hold a meeting of the leaders of the alliance in 1997. This time, the event is given special importance against the background of the difficult political situation in the world and the disagreements between the West and Russia over the situation around Ukraine.
Most of the security measures that have been taken in Madrid on the occasion of the summit will be activated from Tuesday — the day of the official start of the events. Nevertheless, it is already impossible not to notice the changes that have taken place in the city on the eve of the "historic", as the organizers themselves call it, meeting of the leaders of the alliance.
In the near future, delegations from more than 40 countries will gather in the Spanish capital. In addition to 30 NATO members, representatives of EU states that are not part of the North Atlantic Alliance, heads of European institutions, as well as other invited countries will arrive at the summit. It is assumed that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will take part in the working session of the event via videoconference.
One of the most anticipated guests of the meeting will be the host of the White House Joe Biden, who is expected to arrive in Spain on Tuesday at the air base in the village of Torrejon de Ardos, which is located near Madrid and where many other international delegations will also arrive. The American president will hold a bilateral meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and will also visit the Zarzuela Palace, the residence of Monarch Philip VI and his family.
By the way, US First Lady Jill Biden arrived in Spain on Sunday, and on Monday she began her program in Madrid, accompanied by the Spanish Queen Leticia. In particular, it is assumed that the wife of the US president will visit the reception center for Ukrainian refugees.
At the same time, as the TASS correspondent was convinced, the increased presence of police officers at the American embassy, located in the center of the capital of Spain, was observed even before the arrival of distinguished guests there.
Security measures
In total, the summit, the organization of which will cost about € 50 million, will be attended by about 5 thousand people — from representatives of delegations to numerous journalists. The key events of the leaders' meeting will be held at the IFEMA Exhibition Complex, which is located near the Barajas International Airport. A site of 54 thousand square meters was allocated for the summit. Due to the large number of high-ranking guests, the Spanish authorities have been developing a security plan for a long time.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the kingdom, about 10 thousand law enforcement officers will monitor the order during the summit. The additional presence of police officers on the streets of Madrid, especially in the areas where the events will be held, could have been noticed last week.
So, two TASS correspondents arrived on Sunday, June 26, at the IFEMA complex to personally familiarize themselves with how preparations for an important event are being conducted. However, the police, seeing a camera in their hands, said that shooting in this place is prohibited, and asked to provide both identity cards and journalistic accreditations. The document check took about 20 minutes, then the journalists were allowed to leave the complex.
Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida had previously warned that the meeting of the alliance leaders would lead to serious inconveniences for the residents of the city, which would actually be "blocked" during the summit. For example, during the events in Madrid, travel on certain sections of roads will be prohibited. A three-kilometer security perimeter will be installed in the area of the IFEMA complex, where the main part of the summit will take place. In some areas of the capital, parking of vehicles has been prohibited since Monday. Even the electronic information boards installed in Madrid along the highways contain a reminder for drivers that the city will host the NATO summit. In this regard, local authorities have already called on companies operating in the capital, if possible, to transfer their employees to remote operation during the event. In addition, it was decided to make bus travel free, as well as to strengthen the work of public transport.
Areas with significant sights of Madrid will also be affected due to security measures. Thus, the National Prado Museum will be closed for two days — on June 29, a working dinner of high-ranking guests of the summit will be held in the pinacoteca. A day earlier, there will also be a reception at the Royal Palace in the center of the capital, in connection with which it is already closed to visitors today. A separate cultural program is planned for the wives of the alliance leaders who will arrive in Madrid. This will also affect the mode of operation of various attractions of the city.
The sky over Madrid
The Spanish authorities have also developed a plan to ensure the safety of airspace during the summit. Helicopters are already flying over Madrid without stopping. As explained in the Ministry of Defense of the kingdom, during the meeting of the leaders of the alliance, a special system of surveillance and control of the airspace will be deployed. The Spanish Air Force is dealing with this issue.
NATO AWACS aircraft, Spanish fighter jets and helicopters will also participate in ensuring security. "Systems against unmanned aerial vehicles will be [involved], we are going to closely monitor the issue of the possible [use] of drones," Defense Minister Margarita Robles said. "An air defense unit will also be [involved]."
At the same time, there was no information yet about whether the Spanish authorities were going to temporarily close the airspace over Madrid. As told to a TASS correspondent in the press service of the capital's airport, while the air harbor is working without problems.
The "joy" of the summit
Nevertheless, not everyone in Spain is unequivocal about the North Atlantic Alliance — even among the allies of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (the kingdom's government is a coalition).
For example, the Spanish Minister for Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, Ione Belarra, opposed an increase in defense spending just a week before the NATO summit in Madrid. According to the head of the department, who is also the leader of the Podemos party ("We can"), "achieving greater security for Europeans includes expanding social investments, a bold and ambitious public policy aimed at solving what really worries families: energy bills, lack of educational infrastructure in their areas" and others problems.
In addition, a large demonstration against NATO took place in the center of Madrid on Sunday. The rally was joined by more than 2 thousand people who marched through the key streets of the capital, opposing the alliance.
Ekaterina Vorobyova
