The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro, has made it clear that the primary mission of naval vessels in the event of a migrant boat at sea is to assist, save, and rescue those on board if they are in danger. However, at no point should they be expected to “combat” illegal immigration.
This statement was made during his address at the New Defence and Space Forum, in response to Vox leader Javier Ortega Smith, who had asked whether it was necessary to increase the presence of naval ships in the Strait of Gibraltar and in the waters of the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla to curb illegal immigration reaching Spanish shores via boats.
Clarification on Naval Missions
“Let no one think that the Navy will be combating illegal immigration at sea,” Admiral Piñeiro emphasised, clarifying that while they can identify ships transporting people illegally or assist in bringing them to justice, as is being done in the European Union’s ‘Operation Atalanta’, they will not remove them from the water.
“But let no one expect a naval vessel to take any action against them under such circumstances,” he insisted. “That is not our role,” he concluded.
The Admiral stressed that the sole mission of a naval vessel is to assist people. “There should be no doubt about that. It is what we can do. The rest is an issue that surpasses the Armed Forces.”
Addressing the Immigration Issue
After pointing out that the Armed Forces can act as a tool to help the countries of origin for the migrants, as is currently being done in Mauritania, he underlined that irregular immigration is more of a government problem. “This is not an attempt to shift responsibility,” he stated.
To illustrate the harsh reality faced at sea in such situations, the Admiral referred to the EU’s Operation Sophia, which aimed to dismantle human trafficking networks in the Mediterranean and involved Spanish frigates in humanitarian efforts—one of the missions “that has impacted my personnel the most.”
He recounted the “helplessness” of having 250 or 300 people in the water who cannot swim, at risk of drowning, while you are on a vessel that can only rescue 10 or 20. “Knowing that by the time you return for someone, they may no longer be there—it’s incredibly difficult,” he lamented.
Political Reactions
The comments from the Navy Chief were met with a response from Vox on social media platform X, accusing Pedro Sánchez’s government of “assaulting” the institution in an attempt to use it for partisan interests.
“It is a pity that some are so easily swayed,” added Santiago Abascal’s party, emphasising that “The Navy, like the Air Force and Army, exists to defend the Spanish people and to ensure territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty.” EFE
