As the United States mobilizes an unprecedented, global effort to evacuate U.S. citizens, personnel from partner nations, and vulnerable Afghans, we are working closely with our Allies and partners to ramp up evacuation and relocation operations. Our focus right now is getting people out of harm’s way. To do that, the United States is working with the government of Spain to facilitate the transit of people departing Afghanistan through U.S. facilities on Spanish military bases on their way to more permanent resettlement locations in the United States and in third countries. Spanish flights evacuating vulnerable U.S. citizens, Afghans, and other evacuees have arrived in Spain at Torrejon Air Base, and, following today’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Spain, U.S. flights will arrive at Naval Station Rota and Moron Air Base soon.
We are grateful for the Spanish government’s partnership for nearly 70 years, with the last 20 years in Afghanistan. Our cooperation to bring to safety those who have supported our collective efforts in Afghanistan is a testament to the strength of our bilateral ties and our commitment as NATO Allies. We reached this agreement with Spain based on our shared values and common mission to get people out of harm’s way.