In the image
Spanish marines helping to clean damaged streets in Valencia [Armada].
[English version] [Spanish version
In late October 2024, a significant part of Spain's Mediterranean coast was struck by a meteorological phenomenon known as DANA, causing massive floods across Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, and other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. The impact of the crisis has been further aggravated with the lack of a decisive response by both the local and national governments, which have hesitated to assume responsibility over the response coordination and even refused to accept external help in some instances.
The Spanish Navy (Armada) has deployed units and personnel to assist with disaster response measure, highlighting the inherent flexibility of naval power and the enduring importance of its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) dimension in contemporary maritime strategy. In an age when navies remain a tool for power projection more often than against other peers, the Valencia crisis is yet another reminder that HADR missions are bound to remain a central pillar of sea power in the 21st century.
The Spanish Navy and the Valencia Crisis
The Ministry of Defence has gradually mobilized several units of the Spanish Armed Forces to assist with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the most affected regions (including personnel from the Army, the Guardia Civil and the Emergency Military Unit). The contribution of the Spanish Navy has been significant as well.
The Spanish Navy has a rich history of HADR deployments since the end of the Cold War. The L-51 'Galicia' was deployed to Central America in 1998 in response to the Mitch hurricane less than five months after its commissioning, and was also deployed to assist with the 'Prestige' disaster in 2002, the 2005 tsunami in Indonesia, and the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. Its sister ship, the L-52 'Castilla' has also been deployed to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
In the case of Valencia, the Navy has been exemplary with its deployment of both naval assets and manpower. Since November 1st, the Spanish Navy has deployed the Rota-based LPD 'Galicia', the Cartagena-based 'Duero' and 'Sella' minehunters (which operate a 'Pluto' UUV to survey the littoral around Valencia), two SH-60F helicopters, a 'Narwhal' Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and a 'Veril' USV. On November 17th, the 'Galicia' was replaced by the Navy's flagship, the LHD 'Juan Carlos I', which is now leading the Navy's deployment.
In terms of manpower, the personnel dispatched to the region to assist has surpassed the 1000 mark, including 628 marines from the Navy's 'Infantería de Marina', 24 divers, and hundreds of sailors. Among the main tasks carried by the Navy are maritime patrols around the Valencian littoral, the cleaning of the sewer system in the most affected villages of Valencia, pumping water out of flooded neighborhoods, and searching for missing people and survivors. The 'Galicia' and the 'Juan Carlos I' have fully equipped hospitals onboard and have also been providing medical assistance to those in need.
HADR and the evolution of naval power
The inherent flexibility of naval platforms and their subsequent ability to shift among different types of missions at a very short notice makes navies, and naval power in general, one of the most effective instruments of national security. This is very significant at a time when the effects of a global return to great power competition are showing at sea (i.e. the network Sea crisis).
While the primary purpose of warships is the conduct of warfare at sea or from the sea, they are able to carry out a wide array of tasks should they need to. Among them are maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, diplomatic visits to foreign ports, joint naval exercises with allies and partners, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief - HADR.
HADR has risen to prominence as one of the main tasks for navies over the past decades partly as a consequence of the increasing importance of naval operations in littoral waters. With a growing segment of the global population living closer to the littorals, and a greater dependence on economic activity within exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the huge destructive potential of natural disasters demands robust capabilities to prevent them before they take place, as well as for their effective management once they have already struck. As CNA analyst Joshua Tallis has put it, "humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are not ancillary to the broader strategic landscape, but pivotal in its construction."
Since the end of the Cold War, navies have been increasingly focused on conducting missions at the lower-end of the intensity spectrum, many of which fall within the category of military operations other than war (MOOTW). This shift moved their focus away from more traditional naval missions concerned with warfighting and competing against peer adversaries, a shift that has been partially corrected over the last few years with the return of global great power competition and the subsequent need to strengthen deterrence at sea.
Conclusions
The Spanish Navy's ongoing contribution in the Valencia crisis is a timely reminder of the importance of HADR as a fundamental pillar of maritime strategy and sea power in the 21st century. With the looming threat of further crises such as the one taking place in Spain happening across the globe, it is essential for navies across the globe to continue strengthening their training and preparedness for such tasks.
The versatility and logistical mobility of naval power makes it a prominent instrument of national security policy, one which must be exercised and sustained permanently in order to leverage the advantages it confers. HADR is an aspect of which that requires constant preparation, and will remain among the most important tasks for many navies over the following years, as the Valencia crisis has sadly showcased.