NATO lessons learnt from the Afghanistan withdrawal

The traumatic experience of the hasty withdrawal of all international forces from Afghanistan in summer 2021 has had consequences, in this case for NATO. It is well known that what is generally referred to as an "exit strategy", i.e. the plan for a controlled withdrawal of some or all of the forces from a deployment scenario, is not far off the mark. However, the current deployments have now been examined and a forward-looking approach has been determined.

Spain as the "lead nation" - for now

Sources in Madrid have now revealed that Spain has designated its High Readiness Head Quarter of the Navy (Cuartel General Marítimo de Alta Disponibilidad, CGMAD, Rota/Cadiz) to deal with the "Libya" exit scenario. This means coordinating all military measures that would have to be taken in the event of an uncontrollable escalation and the resulting need to evacuate the United Nations personnel deployed in Libya. Around 200 people are currently deployed in the North African country on the Great Syrian Sea as part of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Spain has been chosen as the "lead nation" for this scenario and has submitted a plan to NATO that envisages the embarkation of the CGMAD and corresponding operational components on the GALICIA-class helicopter-carrying dock landing ship CASTILLA as a command platform.

Flying and amphibious forces

As Libya's coastline stretches over a thousand nautical miles, extraction operations will require sufficient naval and amphibious forces to bring UNSMIL personnel as well as civilian personnel from Western embassies and organisations on the ground to safety as part of a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO). To this end, additional operational vehicles and aircraft as well as landing and ground forces will have to be provided by Spain and other NATO nations or contributing nations outside the Alliance.

Italy next in line

According to sources, Spain's commitment is valid until mid-summer 2022, when Italy is scheduled to be the next nation to take over these tasks with its Marina Militare and its air transport and landing capabilities.