Barcelona Mayor Reinstates City Militia, sends powerful signal to Washington, NATO

The mayor of Barcelona is a quiet man, trained as a physician, one could easily mistake him for the quintessential village doctor. No friend of partisan controversies, he has traditionally sought to avoid the rancour of party politics, opting instead for moderation and consensus. However, under this gentle facade lie some rock-solid principles, clear in his decision to reinstate the ceremony of the changing of the guard by the "Coronela", the traditional city militia of Barcelona. On the occasion of Saint Eulalia (12 February), patron saint of the city, almost 300 years after it was disarmed and disbanded, Coronela members once more stood sentry in the City Hall. Just two days before the visit to the city by US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra Alan D. Solomont, Xavier Trias is sending a clear message to Washington and Brussels: Catalonia stands ready to do her duty in terms of security and defence, becoming a net security provider to the Atlantic Alliance and a key American ally.

A view of the changing of the guard at Barcelona City Hall, on 12 February.

What is the "Coronela"? 
This was the name of Barcelona's militia, made up of reservists, civilians under military discipline when called up to serve. The city's guilds were responsible for its manning, with equipment a joint responsibility with the Crown. Each guild was in charge of providing manpower for a company. During the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), when it comprised five battalions, it played a key role in the defence of Catalonia's capital. Other Catalan towns had similar units.

The 12 February change of the guard at Barcelona City Hall was carried out by a military re-enactment group which, bearing the Coronela name, has been working hard in recent years to bring back to life the memory of this unit, and more generally Catalonia's military values and traditions.  

Standing sentry at Barcelona City Hall.

Catalonia: a strategically-located country in the midst of a normalization process. Although on the surface the changing of the guard ceremony may just seem a symbolic event, at the hands of a military re-enactment group, its ultimate significance lies much deeper. It is, without a doubt, part of a wider trend whereby Catalonia is fast recovering the mental attributes of a normal nation, understanding by "normal" one able to provide for its own security, be a valuable member of NATO and US-led ad-hoc military coalitions, support operations by fellow NATO member states (such as French-led counterterrorism operations in Mali), and help secure the Western Mediterranean, facilitating the US "Pivot to the Pacific".

Gone are the days when Barcelona City Council appeared uneasy at anything to do with security and defence. One of the new mayor's first decisions was to deploy the local police force in the city's underground, this was followed by the setting up of a criminal investigation group, and some weeks ago the unveiling of a monument to Sir Winston Churchill. Now, with the return of the changing of the guard, Catalonia's capital is sending a powerful message on behalf of the whole country: you can count on us.

This is particularly valuable for NATO at a time of pressure on defence budgets, a continued need for expeditionary capabilities, greater US reliance on regional allies, and the pressing urge to support partners in the Pacific. Let us not forget that Catalonia lies between France and Western Africa, that it sports key infrastructures such as Barcelona and Tarragona harbours, and that she is home to a significant industrial and scientific base. Thus, a "normal" Catalonia can and will become a force for stability in Western Europe, a net security provider to NATO, a useful American ally, and a participant in international weapons industry consortia.

Alex Calvo is a Professor of International Relations and International Law, Head of the IR Department, and Postgraduate Research Director, European University (Barcelona Campus). An expert on Asian security and defence issues, he got his LLB from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London) and is currently doing an MA in Second World War Studies at the University of Birmingham. He is a former teaching and research fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).