General Lázaro began his speech by mentioning the history of peacekeeping operations, from their inception to the present day. The work of peacekeeping has been complicated by various factors, with COVID-19 being an added difficulty that affects both deployments and procedures. On the other hand, peace operations have undergone a transformation throughout history. In this regard, General Lázaro pointed out that «we are currently in the process of a third evolution of peace operations, learning from the example of the failed state in Libya, where it was identified that the stabilization of a place could not be achieved without the participation of local institutions, including those related to security and defense.»
In this context, a new destabilizing factor at the global level emerged—the COVID-19 pandemic. General Lázaro mentioned how this disease affects peacekeeping operations. At the national level, «one of the biggest challenges has been maintaining the capacity to support civil authorities and other ministries here in the national territory (Spain) during successive pandemics, and maintaining coordination with permanent missions in the sovereign national space, as well as with operations and missions abroad,» stated General Lázaro.
After General Lázaro’s intervention, the debate moderator and director of INCIPE, Vicente Garrido, opened the floor to questions. Some of the questions raised were about the longevity of missions, to which General Lázaro responded: «The forces in these missions must create the conditions for the parties involved in the conflict to seek a local solution that satisfies both sides. While there are no political, social, or economic conditions to achieve this, it can be assumed that these conditions have not been met, and thus the mission cannot be considered finished, leaving it in the hands of local institutions.» Another topic discussed during the debate referred to Spain’s role as a reference country, considering its contributions to peacekeeping in organizations such as the UN or NATO. General Lázaro stated, «In this regard, Spain’s commitment is solid, and in this context, we are and continue to be a reference country for these organizations, and in fact, history shows that Spain is a country with a strong commitment in this sense.»
Additionally, General Lázaro commented on the importance of the rules of engagement to avoid collateral damage and how Spanish forces stand out for adhering to this regulation. Furthermore, regarding the MINUSMA peacekeeping operation in Mali, he pointed out that despite local rejection of the troops in the mission, efforts would continue to ensure that local institutions can find a solution to the conflict. Another aspect discussed during the digital meeting was the impact of the pandemic on missions and armed conflicts, which can be a destabilizing factor and increase inequality among the local population. It also complicates peace efforts stemming from diplomatic action.
In conclusion, General Lázaro highlighted the lessons learned throughout his career, emphasizing the importance of prior preparation for the deployment of any mission and, on the other hand, ensuring that personnel understand the ultimate goal of the mission (peace, security, and respect). «My experience tells me how easy it is for the Spanish soldier to create empathy wherever they go, with the population, troops, and the rest of the personnel on the ground. It is very gratifying because it pays off when facilitating the completion of the mission,» he concluded.
Javier Ubrí
Communication Assistant, INCIPE