COMUNICACIÓN

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation and the Ministry of Defence inaugurated the 2^nd Security and Defence Sessions on the Ibero-American Space this Wednesday with the aim of analysing various aspects at a time when geopolitics and geostrategy are being redefined and significant challenges are emerging. These include the role of the Armed Forces in Ibero-America in supporting the control of irregular immigration, the relationships between organised crime and the State in Ibero-America, and the fight against drug trafficking in the Ibero-American space. (18/09/2024).

The opening of the event was attended by the director of Yuste Foundation, Juan Carlos Moreno Piñero, and the deputy Defence Delegate in Cáceres, colonel Vicente Lunar Bravo.

Juan Carlos Moreno focused his speech on commitment, involvement, and collaboration, stating that in the defence of the values “that made Spain a great nation, no one is superfluous”, and that those who want to engage in the fight for the defence of the constitutional principles of freedom, justice, equality, solidarity, and political pluralism “must be united”.

He emphasised that this attitude must also be maintained “when this solidarity is projected to the brother countries of Ibero-America, with whom Spain, and particularly Extremadura, are connected through many bridges, from the historical to the emotional, the economic, or the security-related”.

In fact, Moreno Piñero framed these sessions within the goal of collaboration, as they are part of the cooperation agreement between Yuste Foundation and the Ministry of Defence to organise joint academic activities. Particularly important among these activities are the defence sessions, whose geographical areas of study focus on Europe and Ibero-America.

The director of Yuste Foundation added that, within the framework of cooperation and commitment by the Spanish Army to the defence of human rights and democratic values in international organisations, the Armed Forces have become a “very valuable instrument of our international relations”, playing a role on the global stage that “enhances Spain’s image abroad, while also revealing to Spanish society an unknown face of our Army, such as its participation in international peace and humanitarian operations”.

This forum, which brings together representatives of the Spanish Armed Forces and the academic world, is held in the assembly hall of Caja Almendralejo in Cáceres, with free admission. It is also broadcast on Yuste Foundation’s YouTube channel.

The European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation organises the Ibero-American Security Sessions under the umbrella of the School of Guadalupe with the aim of promoting dialogue on security and defence policy, including new threats and challenges in the international strategic scenario, with special attention to Europe and Ibero-America, as well as the adaptation and response of the Armed Forces to new challenges.