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Spain News Today

Spanish news in English

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Military Deployment Sparks Political Clash

Published: 2024-11-01

The recent deployment of military forces to aid in the aftermath of the DANA storm in Valencia has ignited a political dispute between Spain's Defense Ministry and the Generalitat Valenciana.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles expressed frustration over the initial restriction of military operations to the Utiel-Requena area, despite the widespread devastation.

Robles criticized the Generalitat for not allowing broader military intervention sooner, which she believes could have mitigated the disaster's impact.

In response, Ruth Merino, spokesperson for the Valencian government, accused Robles of "intolerable disloyalty" and playing politics amidst the tragedy.

As of now, 2,000 military personnel are actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts across the affected regions, with more reinforcements expected.

The situation remains tense as both sides call for unity in addressing the ongoing crisis.