Overview
- Felipe VI toured the Rota naval base Tuesday, focusing on the Navy’s aircraft flotilla along with its survival and security training centers.
- He reviewed the new NH90 and H135 helicopters and took about a 40‑minute flight in an NH90, which officers called the most advanced in the fleet.
- Defense Minister Margarita Robles joined the visit, which Spanish outlets presented as routine military work that also carries institutional weight.
- The trip follows Spain’s decision to bar use of the Rota and Morón bases for operations linked to the Iran war, a move that strained ties with Washington even as ABC notes recent signs of easing.
- International coverage last week cited a leaked Pentagon email about possible penalties for allies, which Spanish leaders downplayed, and the base’s joint Spanish‑U.S. role highlights why any dispute over access matters.