The United States delays up to 2026 shipping to rota of its sixth antimile destroyer | Spain

At a time when the exit to the conflict in Ukraine is in the air and the interest of the United States, the first power of NATO, focuses on the Pacific, the sixth American destroyer – a ship conceived not only as an American exterior projection, but as part of the antimile shield of the alliance – Committed by the administration of Joe Biden in 2022 To defend Europe before the Russian threat, it will not arrive this year, as planned, at the base of Rota (Cádiz), as they have confirmed to El Pais different Spanish military and diplomatic sources.

In mid-March, the United States informed Spain, through the Spanish-North American Permanent Committee (precope), based in the headquarters of the Air Force and the Madrid space, the delay in the deployment of the destroyer of the Arleight Burke class. Washington argues “exclusively operational reasons linked to the commissioning of the ship”, according to Spanish diplomatic sources, which say that, late, it is expected for “the first half of 2026 ″. Accessed by this newspaper on several occasions, the Ministry of Defense has preferred to keep silent in reference to a subject that they consider sensitive, because it concerns relations with a key ally.

The American embassy in Madrid, on the other hand, is limited to responding that there was no scheduled calendar for the arrival of the sixth ship in Spain, but sources of the Naval Base of Rota (Cádiz) ensure that this destroyer had to reach “over 2025”, as established in the Spanish government agreement with the administration of the Democrat Joe Biden. This is confirmed by other high -ranking Spanish military sources.

This gesture could be seen as a form of pressure from the Trump administration to its European allies before the NATO summit that will take place in The Hague (Netherlands) next June, where countries will account for accounts of the expense in defense and the increase in military capacities, in part before the demands of the United States. However, some analysts believe that it could simply respond to the new American strategic interests: Washington looks at the Pacific, while Europe loses strategic attractiveness. And they add that in no case would it be a message to Spain for having been so far the most lagging country in NATO in terms of defense expenditure with respect to GDP.

The Spanish Rota base has a US military presence since 1953. As of 2015, one year after Russia, the Ukraine Peninsula of Crimea was illegally, four US destroyers have been permanently deployed that are part of the NATO antimisile shield. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the consequent NATO summit in Madrid, Joe Biden’s administration agreed with the Government of Pedro Sánchez The shipment of two additional ships as part of the reinforcement of US troops on the European stage. « I want to thank you for your leadership, Pedro. We are together with Ukraine giving him everything he needs to defend himself, » Biden said in Madrid.

The fifth destroyer, the USS Oscar Austinhe reached the Andalusian coasts in October 2024. The plan was for the sixth to do so this year, but the calendar, for now, is not going to be fulfilled. The British newspaper Financial Times Recently collected the climate of tension that the United States decisions generate in the Old Continent. « His demand (from Trump) that Europe begins to defend himself has triggered the anguish that Washington is about to cut his military presence in Europe, » said the British publication.

One of the government’s security and defense experts warns that Washington’s military movements in Europe will not be clear while the US administration does not define and approves its defense strategy, scheduled for 2025. “It will not take long,” says this source that believes it could be ready before summer.

This analyst also believes that until the United States does not review its land forces, the Trump administration « will not move anything », in reference to the sending of the sixth destructive to rotate and other military movements. « (The interest of the United States) is China’s containment, » he says. And that explains that Washington looked at the Pacific. « That area is a national interest for the United States and that will be its priority, » said a high source of the Ministry of Defense that Margarita Robles directed.

And China is the « true » challenge for the United States for some years, they point out military sources, and that has led to the Pacific and Southeast Asia – and not Europe – are the priority for Washington. That adds to the discreet expense in defense of some countries of the Atlantic Alliance « deeply irritate », according to the same source that warned a few months ago: « The United States will not pay much attention to us (to Europe) without serious defense budgets and without some interest in Asia-Pacific. » In this context, Spain last month to the Indo-Pacific La Frigate Méndez Núñez As part of the combat group headed by the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and of which military units of a dozen countries are part. Last year, the Air and Space Army participated in him Pacific Skiesan international exercise which allowed to put Spanish devices in the heavens of the Asian continent and Oceania.

The delay in the delivery of the sixth destructive, however, does not mean a disinterest in the US administration for the base of Rota, its point of contact with Europe and bridge for the Middle East. In fact, Washington is already moving in the medium term (2035) increasing infrastructure, such as hangars, to increase capabilities to the Andalusian base, according to sources from the Spanish Navy.

Controversy and concern

Delays in the deliveries of destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers and submarines in the United States are being grounds for controversy within their own army and, according to specialized publications and other officers such as the Office of Accountability of the US Government (Gao), The delays are being on average between one and three years.

At the beginning of April, US Navy officials have already warned of stagnation in naval construction and what that could mean for success or failure in conflicts between great powers. And Washington is concerned about this situation while Beijing, which the true rival considers, dedicates more and more efforts to expand the size and capabilities of its naval force.