Rohling visits Spain, discusses bilateral partnership with defense officials



By SETAF-Africa Public Affairs SETAF-Africa Vicenza, Italy Jul 14, 2021
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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, Commanding General, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, traveled to Spain, July 6-9.

Rohling met with senior defense officials to discuss Spain’s involvement in future security cooperation activities and training exercises, the effects of the recent consolidation between U.S. Army Europe and Africa headquarters, and the efforts of U.S. Army Security Force Assistance teams in Africa.

The Spanish Army participates in NATO, European Union and United Nations training missions, to include the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Latvia and the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM-Mali). 

“Spain has been a longstanding ally and an important contributor to the European Union, NATO, and our shared security interests in Africa,” Rohling said. 

During his visit, Rohling met with Gen. Francisco Javier Varela Salas, the Spanish Army Chief of Staff and Lt. Gen. Miguel Martín Bernardi, the Army Vice Chief of Staff; Lt. Gen. Fernando Garcia González-Valerio, the Chief of the Spanish Joint Defense Staff; Lt. Gen. Fernando García-Vaquero Pradal, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Spain commander, and senior defense policy officials from the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

Rohling and Command Sgt. Maj. Charles W. Gregory, the SETAF-AF command sergeant major, also participated in a jump alongside paratroopers of the Spanish Airborne Brigade. 

After the airborne operation, Rohling and Gregory exchanged U.S. Jump Wings with Spanish paratroopers during a ceremony, and commended the Spanish paratroopers for their skill, expertise, and professionalism.  

“The airborne operation with the Spanish Armed Forces Airborne Brigade demonstrates the trust that exists between our two nations and the confidence we have in the Spanish airborne brigade,” Rohling said. 


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