Profile of latest Spanish Armed Forces Recruits

The Spanish Armed Forces' latest selection process has resulted in 1,500 candidates being admitted into different training centres, to become professional soldiers and sailors. A statement from the Defence Ministry provides some details about them, of which we may underline two. First of all, only two are not Spanish nationals (a Mexican and a Colombian). Second, their educational level is higher than on previous occasions, with one third having a university degree or a technical education certificate. Since neither the Spanish Government, nor the ruling party and high military command in Madrid have ruled out resorting to force in order to keep control over Catalonia, it is necessary to ask ourselves what the implications, if any, may be of these changes in the characteristics of new recruits. We may subdivide this question into three different aspects.

First of all, in the event of a military intervention in Catalonia, is morale likely to be stronger among Spanish soldiers, in comparison with their Latin American counterparts? Could we  speculate that they may be more supportive of the resort to military force to prevent Catalonia from regaining independence, feeling a more direct connection between the mission and their interests and national identity than their comrades in arms from the other side of the pond?. Would this still hold in the face of the risk of ending up tried for war crimes? The increase in applications as the recession has deepened may indicate that many of these soldiers are primarily motivated by a search for a stable source of income, rather than an extreme brand of Spanish nationalism. However, the two are not necessarily incompatible. It seems more likely, though, that Madrid may employ radical nationalists in an irregular role, rather than formally integrate them into her Armed Forces. Recent reports of clandestine financing by Madrid of the failed 10/12 Loyalist demonstration in Barcelona may support this assertion.

Second, could the drop in the number of Latin American recruits lessen the international impact of a Spanish intervention in Catalonia? Despite their tiny presence in this latest round, a not small number of citizens from Latin American countries remain in the Spanish Armed Forces. This means that one of the tasks of Catalan diplomacy is to make it clear to their governments that there is a risk that they may be sent to Catalonia to fight a colonial war. Out of coherence and national interest they should act to prevent it. It would not contribute to their anti-colonial credentials to see their citizens commit war crimes in a colonial war, at the service of their former colonial master, in a last-ditch attempt to keep control of another colony. Although none of these governments is actively supporting Spanish policy in Catalonia, any war crimes trial where their citizens stood accused would, without a doubt, taint the good name of the country involved. In a globalized world where the social media rules, there could be no hiding it. In a fast-moving world where people often just read headlines, without bothering about details, there may be very little margin for Latin American Governments to explain that they had in no way supported the commission of war crimes by their own citizens in a colonial war.

Since an intervention may take place at any time, and the risk of war crimes being committed would be very high, these governments may find it expedient to ask Madrid to explicitly rule out resorting to force in Catalonia. To date, Spanish authorities have refused to deliver such undertaking. Furthermore, they have failed to dismiss military personnel issuing public threats against Catalan civilians and institutions. Should that commitment not be forthcoming, the next logical step would be to direct their citizens to resign from the Spanish Armed Forces.

Concerning this, we must celebrate two significant developments which should ensure that Latin American governments are informed of the conflict between Catalonia and Spain. First of all, one year ago Help Catalonia launched its Spanish-language website (Tweeter account @AyudaCat). Help Catalonia is a privately-founded public diplomacy organization, devoted to informing the World about Catalonia's struggle to regain freedom. Second, Catalans in Latin America have recently set up a Spanish-language news agency (http://www.agenciaincat.la/). These moves, together with public diplomacy efforts by the Catalan Government and the important task of Catalan centres in Latin America should ensure that governments and public opinions in the region are informed of events in Catalonia.   

To sum it up, a growing number of Spaniards are competing to become professional soldiers and sailors, displacing candidates from Latin America. The main reason for this seems to be a dearth of alternative employment opportunities in the civilian sector, prompted by the ongoing recession. However, while this would seem to rule out increased interest motivated by a desire to actively intervene in the conflict between Catalonia and Spain, it is necessary to remain vigilant. On the other hand, despite the drop in Latin American recruits, only two passed the tests to enter training centres this time, they still account for a portion of Spanish troops. As a result, they risk becoming involved in a military intervention in Catalonia, in yet another Spanish colonial war. That, together with the spectre of war crimes trials, risks torpedoing Latin American efforts to oppose colonialism. One cannot be anti-colonial and send his sons to fight a colonial war, for his former colonial master, to keep a colony under control. Any resulting war crimes trial would taint the good name of the countries involved, not just that of the accused. It would thus be advisable for Latin American Governments to demand an unequivocal commitment from Madrid not to employ force in Catalonia. Should Spain fail to deliver that unequivocal undertaking, prudence would dictate instructing their citizens to resign from the Spanish Armed Forces at once.

Alex Calvo, expert in security and defence in the Asia-Pacific Region, is currently guest professor at Nagoya University, Japan.