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Article: Small mercies, big seas. (Spain's participation in NATO)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- February 20, 1988
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1988 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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HAVING prevailed upon the Americans to take their F-16 fighters elsewhere, Spain is now trying to demonstrate that it can despite this be a useful member of the Atlantic alliance. It has offered to take responsibility for a sea area stretching from the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar, to a chunk of the Atlantic reaching about as far west as the Canaries. It is also willing to open Spanish territory to supplies and reinforcements heading for the front in wartime. These may seem modest gestures. Coming from Spain, they show willing.
The offer has got a sympathetic response from NATO. Since Spain's prime minister, Mr ...