FUNCTIONS OF THE SPANISH ARMY IN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY; [ФУНКЦИИ ИСПАНСКОЙ АРМИИ ВО ВНУТРЕННЕЙ И ВНЕШНЕЙ ПОЛИТИКЕ]; [EL PAPEL DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS EN LA POLÍTICA DE ESPAÑA. DIMENSIÓN INTERIOR Y EXTERIOR]

In this work, the author evaluates the role of the Spanish army in ensuring internal and international security. The uniqueness of the country’s position lies in the fact that the Spanish Armed Forces actively participate in the military and humanitarian missions of NATO, while expenditures on the defense sector in the amount of GDP were record low among the alliance members – less than 1%. At the same time, the country managed to occupy its niche in the field of military industry: it owns a little more than 2% of the world arms market, and its distinctive product – submarine class S-80. The nature of the armed forces is related to protection from external threats, but as cross-border emergency challenges arise, the army in Western countries is often used as a civil defense tool. However, in the Spanish case, their contribution to anti-terrorist activities is limited to the specifics of Basque reactionary separatism (occupation by Castilla). The beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine revealed the depth of antagonism between the political postures of Madrid and the demands of the partners of NATO. The question of increasing defense spending in the face of high inflation (5, 7% in 2022 and 3, 1% in 2023) and the diplomatic stalemate between Spanish-Moroccan relations came to the fore for the Spain´s foreign policy. © (2024), (Iberoamerica (Russian Federation)). All rights reserved.