Naval Power and Disaster Response: The Valencia Crisis

[English version]

At the end of October 2024, a significant part of the Spanish Mediterranean coast was affected by a meteorological phenomenon known as a DANA, which caused massive flooding in Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia and other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. The impact of the crisis has been further aggravated by the lack of a decisive response from regional and central governments, which have been hesitant to take responsibility for coordinating the response and have even refused to accept financial aid external in some cases.

The Spanish Navy has deployed units and staff to assist with disaster response measures, underscoring the inherent flexibility of naval power and the enduring importance of its attendance Humanitarian and Disaster Response (HADR) dimension in contemporary maritime strategy. At a time when navies remain a tool for power projection ashore more often than against other navies, the Valencia crisis is another reminder that HADR missions are destined to remain a central pillar of maritime power in the 21st century.

The Spanish Navy and the Valencia crisis

The Ministry of Defense has gradually mobilized several units of the Spanish Armed Forces to assist with humanitarian attendance and disaster relief in the most affected regions (including staff of the Army, the Civil Guard and the Military Emergency Unit). The Navy's contribution has also been significant.

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 Hurricane Mitch less than five months after commissioning, and was also deployed to assist in the 2002 'Prestige' disaster, the 2005 tsunami in Indonesia and the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. Her 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 staff. Since November 1, it has deployed the Rota-based LPD 'Galicia', the Cartagena-based minehunters 'Duero' and 'Sella' (operating a UUV 'Pluto' to survey the coastline around Valencia), two SH-60F helicopters, a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) 'Narwhal' and a USV 'Veril'. On November 17, the 'Galicia' was replaced by the Navy's flagship, the LHD 'Juan Carlos I', which now leads the Navy's deployment.

In terms of staff, the contingent sent to the region to help has surpassed the 1,000 mark, including 628 Marines, 24 divers and hundreds of sailors. Among the main tasks being carried out by the Navy are maritime patrols along the Valencian coastline, sewer cleaning in the most affected towns in Valencia, pumping water in flooded neighborhoods and searching for missing persons and survivors. The 'Galicia' and the 'Juan Carlos I' have fully equipped hospitals on board and have also been providing attendance medical assistance to those in need.

HADR and the evolution of naval power

The inherent flexibility of naval platforms and their consequent ability to switch from one subject of mission statement to another at very short notice make 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 skill between great powers are showing themselves at sea (e.g., the Red Sea crisis).

While the primary purpose of warships is the conduct of war at sea or from the sea, they can perform a wide range of tasks if required. These include maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, diplomatic visits to foreign ports, joint naval exercises with allies and partners, and humanitarian attendance and disaster relief (HADR).

HADR has gained prominence as a major task for navies in recent decades, partly as a consequence of the growing importance of naval operations in littoral waters. At a time when an increasing segment of the world's population lives closer to coasts and there is greater dependence on economic activity within exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the enormous destructive potential of natural disasters demands robust capabilities to prevent them before they occur, as well as for their effective management once they have already struck. As Joshua Tallis, researcher of the Virginia Center for Naval Analyses, has said, "humanitarian attendance and disaster relief are not ancillary to the larger strategic picture, but central to its construction."

Since the end of the Cold War, navies have increasingly focused on conducting missions at the lower end of the intensity spectrum, many of which fall into the category of military operations other than war. This shift shifted their attention away from more traditional naval missions related to war fighting and skill against peer adversaries, a shift that has been partially corrected in recent years with the return of skill between global great powers and the consequent need to strengthen deterrence at sea.

Conclusions

The Spanish Navy's continued contribution to 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 imminent threat of new crises such as the one currently taking place in Spain being repeated around the world, it is essential that navies around the world continue to strengthen their training and readiness for this subject of tasks.

The versatility and logistical mobility of naval power make it an outstanding instrument of national security policy, which must be exercised and maintained on a permanent basis to take advantage of the benefits it confers. HADR is an aspect that requires constant preparation and will continue to be one of the most important tasks for many navies in the coming years, as the Valencia crisis has sadly highlighted.