The Spanish Maritime Security: Main Chalenges

Abstract

In this article, we have studied the more relevant events concerning Spanish maritime security in the last years and the main challenges ahead. First, it has been explained the way leading to the adoption in 2013 of the national maritime strategy. Second, a review was made to the participation of Spain in some international naval operations, like Atalanta and Sophia of the EU. Third, it has been exposed the cases in which the Spanish maritime security has been at risk in the last decades, like the clash against Canada concerning the halibut in 1995 or the Persil Island incident of 2002. Finally, it has been reflect over possible maritime conflicts in the future.