Modernisation of the Armed Forces

Abstract

This article briefly reviews the recent history of the Spanish Armed Forces, stressing the importance of the military institution and its role in contemporary Spanish history. Following Franco’s death there was an attempt to bring the command of the Armed Forces under democratic control within the constitution, a process in which General Gutiérrez Mellado played a crucial role. Since 1981, two important measures have been taken in the military sphere: “case 2/81”, prosecuting the perpetrators of the attempted coup in 1981, and Spain’s application to join the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), a very important step in shaping the country’s future and driving the modernisation of the Spanish Armed Forces, putting them on an equal footing with their peers elsewhere in the Western world. After the socialist victory in 1982, the PSOE government changed direction, skilfully transforming its initial anti-Americanism, obtaining Spain’s membership of NATO following the 1986 referendum, and profoundly changing the Armed Forces, thus eliminating military tensions. The last stage of the modernisation process was led by Aznar’s government, with the professionalisation of the Armed Forces and the integration of Spain in NATO’s military structure.