Minister fires shot across Catalan nationalists’ bows on military day

The defense minister, Pedro Morenés, said on Sunday that Spain’s military “are well prepared, with their spirits firm and sober, without paying any attention to absurd provocations, and are quietly doing their duty.” His comments were interpreted by many as a veiled reference to recent efforts by regions such as Catalonia to achieve greater independence from Spain.

Speaking during the military’s annual ceremony — held at the royal palace and attended by King Juan Carlos — the minister also announced that a cyberspace unit will shortly go into operation, “with the aim of combatting the risks from this new environment.”

For his part, King Juan Carlos, who turned 75 on Saturday, said the government’s new National Defense Directive “recognizes that the current economic crisis is acting as a threat to security.” And as such, he warned, it is “essential to prioritize efforts to maintain military capability to guarantee a plausible deterrent in defense of Spain’s interests.”